/9/3     * 


111 


Tke  rarmers  jEjaucaiioiiai 

and  Co-Operative  Union 

of  America 


What  It  Is 

and 

What  It  Is  Doing 


^c 


BY 

A.  C.  DAVIS 

National  Secretary-Treasurer 


■k •— w 


The  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co- 
operative Union  of 
America 


What  It  Is 

and 

What  It  Is  Doing 


WITH  AN  APPENDIX 

Containing  a  Directory  of  the  National  and  State 
Officials,  Excerpts  from  an  Article  on  Co- 
operation, and  Topics  for  Dis- 
cussion in  Local  Unions 


JUNE,  1913 


four  Slates  Press 


Texarkana,  U.  S.  A 


If  you  desire  to  better  the  condition  of  yourself  and 
family  both  financially  and  socially,  read  this  book. 

If  you  believe  the  present  system  of  marketing  farm 
crops  through  so  many  middle  men  exacts  too  much  toll 
from  both  producer  and  consumer,  read  this  book  and  see 
what  co-operation  will  do. 

If  you  are  skeptical  about  the  business  ability  of  the 
American  farmer,  yet  open  to  conviction,  read  this  book 
and  be  convinced. 

If  you  are  a  farmer  but  not  a  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Union,  read  this  book,  then  send  your  application  to  the 
nearest  local. 

If  the  organization  is  not  represented  in  your  commu- 
nity write  for  additional  literature  to  A.  C.  DAVIS,  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer, Rogers,  Ark. 


-m^^ 


NEWT  GRESHAM    (DECEASED) 
FOUNDER   OF  THE   FARMERS'   UNION 


A^p.d^i 


CHARLES    S.    BARRETT,    NATIONAL    PRESIDENT, 
UNION    CITY,    GEORGIA 


A.    C.    DAVIS,   NATIONAL  SECRETARY-TREASURER, 
ROGERS,   ARKANSAS 


PREFACE 


TO  THE  FARMERS  OF  AMERICA: 

There  is  no  more  useful,  more  fascinating  occupation 
than  that  of  the  farmer.  No  home  is  so  capable  of  giving 
to  the  world  a  race  of  intelligent,  patriotic  citizens  as  that 
of  the  American  farmer.  ■  Our  high  standards  and  ideals 
are  more  nearly  preserved  in  their  simple  dignity  and  purity 
by  the  dwellers  upon  the  farms.  This  is  due  as  much,  per- 
haps more,  to  environments  and  surroundings  than  to  any 
inherent  tendency  to  superior  honesty  and  integrity.  The 
charms  of  nature  lend  themselves  to  the  development  in 
the  hearts  of  those  whose  daily  lives  are  touched  and  soften- 
ed by  their  presence,  of  a  love  for  the  beautiful,  the  good,  and 
the  true. 

If  these  statements  are  true,  which  I  firmly  believe, 
what  can  be  more  natural  than  the  desire  to  perpetuate  con- 
ditions than  make  a  happy,  prosperous,  farm  home  possible, 
or  if  obstacles  are  impeding  progress  toward  a  realization 
of  that  end,  to  remove  them  forever.  A  great  fault  with 
members  of  our  class  is  to  become  satisfied  with,  or  indif- 
ferent toward,  existing  conditions:  rather  than  to  become 
active  for  something  better.  To  reach  the  highest  degree 
of  efficiency  as  a  citizen  and  an  agent  of  civilization,  the 
farmer  must  become  an  aggressive  worker,  not  only  upon 
the  farm,  but  also  in  the  channels  of  commerce. 

There  are  two  great  problems  with  which  the  farmer  is 
vitally  concerned — the  production  of  commodities  and  their 
distribution.  With  the  facilities  now  offered  by  the  Fed- 
eral and  State  governments  for  teaching  scientific  agricul- 
ture, and  the  hearty  co-operation  by  farmers  themselves  in 
the  demonstration  work,  the  problem  of  production  is  be- 
coming less  grave.  The  public  is  so  much  concerned  in  its 
food  supply  that  you  may  rest  assured  no  effort  will  be 
lacking  to  help  you  secure  an  increased  production  from 
your  acres. 

There  is  one  problem,  however,  with  which  the  public 
is  not  concerned ;  one  that  rests  with  you  and  you  alone  to 
solve,  and  that  is  the  distribution  of  your  crops  at  a  price 


10  PREFACE 

that  will  remunerate  you  for  the  toil  and  labor  of  produc- 
tion. That  this  question  can  be  settled  by  the  individual 
fo  his  own  satisfaction  is  an  absurdity.  The  solution  can 
be  worked  out  only  by  a  system  of  co-operative  marketing. 

Whatever  may  be  the  lesser  needs  of  a  great  farmers' 
organization,  the  chief  aim  and  the  only  one  for  which  it 
can  claim  the  support  of  all  American  agriculturists  is  a 
determination  to  work  out  the  crop  marketing  problem. 
This  we  put  forward  as  our  object  in  claiming  your  support 
for  the  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND  CO-OPERA- 
TIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA. 

Farmers  must  become  distributors  as  well, as  producers. 
The  report  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  shows  that  the 
farmer  receives  but  46  per  cent  of  the  price  paid  by  the  ulti- 
mate consumer  for  his  product.  The  Farmers'  Union  is  de- 
termined to  secure  for  the  producer  a  greater  share  in  the 
profits.  If  you  are  interested  in  such  a  movement  your  at- 
tention is  called  to  the  work  already  accomplished  by  this 
organization  in  the  twenty-one  states  now  organized.  A 
careful  reading  will  convince  you  that  the  Farmers'  Union 
is  no  longer  an  experiment  but  that  after  ten  years  of  active 
development  it  must  be  recognized  THE  GREATEST 
FORCE  OF  THE  AGE  among  American  farmers. 

In  the  preparation  of  that  portion  of  this  volume  deal- 
ing with  the  results  of  the  union's  efforts  to  secure  legisla- 
tion, I  have  been  ably  assisted  by  T.  J.  Brooks,  Professor 
of  Marketing  and  Rural  Economics,  A.  &  M.  College  of 
Mississippi,  President  C.  S.  Barrett  and  others. 

To  those  State  Secretaries  who  have  supplied  me  with 
valuable  data  concerning  the  Union  enterprises  in  their  re- 
spective jurisdictions,  I  am  deeply  indebted. 

A.  C  DAVIS. 
National  Secretarv-Treasnrer. 


The 

Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-Operative 
Union  of  America 

WHAT  IT  IS  and 
WHAT  IT  IS  DOING 


The  Farmers'  Educational  and  Co-Operative  Union  of 
America  is  a  Fraternal  Beneficiary  Association  of  Farmers, 
the  preamble  of  whose  Constitution  is  as  follows: 

In  the  course  of  modern  industrial  development  we  find 
it  necessary  that  the  farmer  not  only  apply  the  principles 
of  scientific  agriculture,  but  that  he  systematize  his  busi- 
ness by  co-operation  and  apply  the  principles  of  scientific 
commerce. 

Expensive  and  wasteful  methods  of  exchange  have  been 
a  constant  drain  on  the  farming  class,  and  speculation  has 
been  allowed  to  demoralize  markets  and  prevent  the  normal 
operation  of  the  law  of  supply  and  demand. 

To  enable  farmers  to  meet  these  conditions  and  protect 
their  interests  we  have  organized  the  Farmers'  Educational 
and  Co-operative  Union  of  America,  and  declare  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Purposes : 

To  secure  equity,  establish  justice  and  applv  the  Golden 
Rule. 

To  discourage  the  credit  and  mortgage  system. 

To  assist  our  members  in  buying  and  selling. 

To  educate  the  agricultural  classes  in  scientific  farming. 

To  teach  farmers  the  classification  of  crops,  domestic 
economy,  and  the  process  of  marketing. 

To  systematize  methods  of  production  and  distribution. 

To  eliminate  gambling  in  farm  products  by  Boards  of 
Trade,  Cotton  Exchanges  and  other  speculators. 


!?^' •.*  *:  :,.:''I)"Be, FARMERS'  educational  and 

To  bring  farming  up  to  the  standard  of  other  industrial 
and  business  enterprises. 

To  secure  and  maintain  profitable  and  uniform  prices 
for  cotton,  grain,  live  stock,  and  other  products  of  the  farm. 

To  strive  for  harmony  and  good  will  among  all  man- 
kind, and  brotherly  love  among  ourselves. 

To  garner  the  tears  of  the  distressed,  the  blood  of  mar- 
tyrs, the  laugh  of  innocent  childhood,  the  sweat  of  honest 
labor,  and  the  virtue  of  a  happy  home  as  the  brightest 
jewels  known. 


FOOTPRINTS  OF  THE  AGES 

By  T.  J.  Brooks,  of  the  A.  &  M.  College  of  Missouri. 


Problems  of  Today  and  Lessons  of  Yesterday. 

Modern  history  takes  on  a  new  glory  in  material  devel- 
opment. Brains  work  with  continents  as  fields  of  opera- 
tion and  with  millions  of  dollars  as  capital.  Thousands 
work  at  one  task  and  move  things  as  by  magic.  We  drain 
a  swamp  in  the  morning  and  water  a  desert  in  the  evening. 
Scientific  management  and  systematization  are  just  com- 
ing through  experience  and  we  see  where  millions  have 
been  wasted  and  millions  are  not  yet  saved.  Ores  are 
brought  from  the  earth,  fashioned  into  monsters  and  a  mil- 
lion whirling  wheels  do  the  bidding  of  man. 

Mountains  are  tunneled,  rivers  spanned,  and  cataracts 
harnessed  as  by  the  magician's  wand.  The  oceans  are 
flecked  with  floating  palaces  and  racing  greyhounds  of  the 
seas;  the  continents  dotted  with  magnificent  cities  where 
is  focused  the  commerce  of  the  busiest  age  of  the  world. 

The  history  of  civilization  is  the  history  of  the  unfold- 
ment  of  the  human  mind.  To  break  shackles  from  the 
brain  loosens  chains  from  the  body.  To  master  a  new  force 
in  nature  takes  a  tear  from  the  cheek  of  unpaid  toil.  To 
strike  down  an  infamy  adds  a  smile  to  the  countenance  of 
innocence.  An  injustice  eradicated  lifts  a  sorrow  from  the 
heart  of  the  world. 

Fifty-four  foreign  corporations  and  individuals  own  an 
area   in   the  United   States  exceeding  the   States  of  New 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  13 

Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Rhode 
Island,  New  Jersey  and  Delaware.  The  holdings  of  sixty- 
three  owners  in  the  United  States  exceed  the  combined 
areas  of  the  German  Empire,  Denmark,  Belgium,  Holland, 
and  Switzerland.  Home  and  foreign  land  companies  have 
spent  $9,000,000,000  for  land  in  this  country  during  the  last 
five  years.  The  feudalism  of  the  Middle  Ages  was  founded 
on  land  monopoly.  Land  values  are  now  out  of  reach  of 
the  poor. 

The  indifference  of  the  average  citizen  to  sociological 
questions  is  appalling.  No  outside  power  or  influence  will 
come  in  and  decide  questions  of  statecraft.  The  common, 
every-day  workman  is  the  responsible  party  in  a  Republic. 

The  combined  industry  of  ninety-three  million  people 
adds  $4,000,000,000  to  the  Nation's  wealth  annually. 

There  are  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  thousand  corpora- 
tions in  the  country  that  have  shown  by  their  sworn  state- 
ments that  they  annually  receive  in  profits  $3,125,000,000. 

There  are  a  million  corporations  in  the  Union  which 
control  eighty-two  per  cent  of  the  wealth  of  the  ninety- 
three  million  people. 

The  cost  of  the  municipal,  county.  State  and  National 
Governments  is  $2,500,000,000. 

So  the  trusts  and  corporations  absorb  all  the  net  in- 
crease of  wealth  and  the  cost  of  the  governments  come 
extra. 

Which  means  that  labor  is  losing  a  billion  a  year  of  its 
capital  stock  and  all  its  net  increase. 

There  arc  six  thousand  men  in  the  United  States  worth 
from  one  to  ten  million  dollars  each.  There  are  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  w^orth  from  ten  to  one  hundred  million. 
There  are  six  thousand  whose  combined  wealth  equals  the 
value  of  the  entire  farm  property  of  the  United  States. 

By  the  manipulation  of  the  rise  and  fall  of  stocks  ma- 
nipulators are  able  to  siphon  into  their  coffers  the  profits 
of  the  farmer,  artisan  and  merchant.  Most  of  the  millions 
accumulated  by  the  masters  of  high  finance  have  not  been 
gained  by  business  per  se,  but  by  playing  the  stock  market 
against  the  investing  public. 

The  volume  of  money  in  the  Nation  is  $3,400,000,000, 
and  to  control  a  few  hundred  million  of  this  at  a  time  will 
affect  the  value  of  every  species  of  property.  By  control- 
ling the  great  banks,  insurance  companies,  and  various  in- 
dustries using  millions  of  cash,  market  manipulation  is  ac- 
complished. 


14  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

What  does  all  this  mean? 

Does  it  really  have  a  meaning? 

Does  it  mean  that  we  are  building  permanently? 

Is  it  best  to  sing  lullabys  and  say  nothing  of  these  things 
because  they  have  a  tendency  to  rouse  discussion  and  get 
people  dissatisfied? 

Is  a  man  a  crank  and  a  disturber  of  the  peace  who 
mentions  them? 

Are  these  facts  not  alarming  prophecies? 

If  so,  and  we  heed  not  the  meaning,  we  are  void  of 
those  qualities  of  good  citizenship  which  are  essential  to 
free  government. 

What  is  to  be  our  record  in  the  footprints  of  the  ages? 


THE    FARMERS'    UNION    AND    LEGISLATION. 
WHAT  IS  HAS  DONE  AND  IS  DOING. 


There  is  not  a  great  industrial  organization  controlling 
immense  capital  that  does  not  have  its  paid  retainers  to 
watch  legislation.  It  is  money  to  those  interested,  as  they 
have  found  by  experience.  There  is  nothing  so  strong  in 
human  affairs  as  the  personal  equation.  If  you  want  a 
thing  done,  be  there  in  person  and  see  that  it  is  done  or 
know  the  reasons  why. 

Why  should  the  farmer  be  an  exception  to  the  rule? 

No,  the  farmer  does  not  have  to  hire  men  to  watch 
legislation,  but  he  has  to  take  the  consequences  of  not 
watching  and  pressing  his  claims — for  the  other  fellow  is 
certain  to  be  there  and  keep  busy.  Non-partisan  work  be- 
fore legislatures  and  congresses  is  the  greatest  force  in  pub- 
lic life.  To  persist  in  neglecting  this  branch  of  public 
privilege  by  the  farmer  would  be  a  calamity  to  agriculture, 
and  incidentally,  to  the  country  at  large.  We  have  a  very 
complex  system  of  government  and  this  is  one  of  the  pen- 
alties we  must  pay  for  living  in  a  republic. 

Yes,  the  Farmers'  Union  already  has  written  laws  on 
the  statute  books  of  ten  states  and  is  effecting  national 
legislation. 

What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it? 

If  you  are  "afraid"  of  this  policy  you  can  go  way  back 
and  sit  down — lay  your  weary  head  on  a  pillow  of  preju- 
dice and  die,  for  the  world  will  never  notice  you. 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  15 

If  you  think  the  policy  a  good  one,  the  way  is  open  for 
you  to  have  as  much  to  say  about  the  measure  to  be  pressed 
before  legislative  bodies  as  any  one  else.  Come  in  and  take 
part. 

The  farmer  has  three  duties  to  perform  and  prospers  or 
does  not  prosper  in  proportion  to  the  success  with  v/hich  he 
handles  the  burden  that  rests  on  him : 

He  must  know  how  to  farm  scientifically. 

He  must  know  how  to  market  scientifically. 

He  must  know  how  to  have  legislation  in  his  interest. 

These  things  the  Farmers'  Union  is  helping  to  do  and 
its  history  shows  that  it  is  making  remarkable  headway, 
considering  the  small  per  cent  of  farmers  that  have  helped 
and  the  tremendous  obstacles  in  the  way. 

No  matter  how  little  it  has  accomplished,  it  is  just  that 
much  more  than  all  the  unorganized  farmers  have  done  or 
can  do  in  a  public  way.  The  individual  farmer  can  produce, 
and  there  his  function  ends  until  he  organizes.  It  matters 
not  how  much  he  knows  he  is  powerless  till  he  co-operates 
with  other  farmers  on  some  definite  lines. 

Yes,  the  farmer  must  learn  how  to  manipulate  the  leg- 
islative plow  or  never  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  other 
fellow  at  the  summer  resort. 

The  Farmers'  Union  is  in  no  sense  a  political  party,  but 
it  has  taken  a  lively  interest  in  public  questions,  both  state 
and  national,  since  it  began  its  career. 

To  give  a  true  index  to  its  attitude  on  public  issues  its 
mode  of  operation  is  the  purpose  of  this  article. 

It  never  indorses  a  candidate. 

It  never  puts  out  a  candidate. 

It  never  formulates  a  political  platform. 

It  agrees  in  conventions  on  a  few  measures,  elects  a 
Legislative  Committee  which  goes  to  the  Legislature,  if  a 
State  Committee,  and  to  Congress  if  a  National  Committee. 
And  this  committee  argues  the  case  before  the  committee 
having  charge  of  the  bill  pending  passage. 

The  attiude  of  the  various  members  of  the  Legislature, 
or  Congress,  is  noted  and  reported  to  the  membership. 

That  is  all. 

This  gives  the  members  a  chance  to  turn  down  those 
who  turn  down  their  measures. 

The  membership  is  never  ordered  to  do  so. 

If  they  can't  take  a  hint  they  can  just  take  the  conse- 
quence. 


16  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

National  Legislation. 

The  National  Farmers'  Union  is  asking  .Congress  to 
^"pass  a  law  further  restricting  immigration. 

A  law  to  prevent  dealing  in  futures  on  margin. 

It  helped  to  secure  the  Parcels  Post. 

A  law  providing  for  the  physical  valuation  of  railroads, 
telegraph,  telephone  and  express  companies  as  an  essential 
feature  of  proper  regulation. 

A  law  limiting  the  ownership  of  land  by  interstate  cor- 
porations to  that  necessary  in  the  prosecution  of  their  busi- 
ness. 

A  law  prohibiting  citizens  and  corporations  of  foreign 
countries  from  buying  lands  in  the  United  States  for  agri- 
cultural purposes;  and  that  land  now  owned  by  aliens  and 
capable  of  cultivation  be  bought  by  the  government  and 
sold  in  suitable  homesteads  for  American  citizens. 

A  law  providing  for  the  establishment  of  a  Bureau  of 
Crop  Distribution,  operated  in  connection  with  the  De- 
partment of  i-\griculture.  The  bureau  to  collect  and 
disseminate  information  on  the  condition  of  domestic 
markets  and  the  best  methods  of  selling,  and  this  informa- 
tion to  be  circulated  free  as  the  consular  reports  are  now 
circulated.  This  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  truck  farm- 
ers and  fruit  growers. 

It  is  opposing  any  legislation  leading  to  a  central  bank 
that  will  make  it  possible  for  the  currency  to  be  concen- 
trated, and  its  flow,  in  answer. to  the  demands  of  commerce, 
controlled  by  interested  capitalists. 

It  favors  such  financial  legislation  as  will  wrest  from 
the  great  financial  interests  the  power  now  exercised  over 
the  money  of  the  country ;  causing  fluctuations  in  values, 
which  lead  to  speculative  gains  by  the  manipulators  and 
the  bankruptcies  of  the  thousands  of  victims. 

State  Legislation  Requested  By  the  National  Union. 

At  the  annual  convention  of  the  National  Union,  held 
at  Shawnee,  Oklahoma,  September,  1911,  the  following  was 
passed  unanimously: 

"We  recommend  that  the  Legislative  Committees  of 
the  Farmers'  Union  in  the  various  states  work  for  the  en- 
actment of  laws  requiring  the  teaching  of  scientific  mar- 
keting in  the  public  schools  (high  school  grade) ;  that  the 
Legislative  Committees  wait  upon  the  Textbook  Commit- 
tees and  urge  the  adoption  of  textbooks  which  treat  of 
scientific  marketing,  and  such  other  textbooks  as  will  teach 
an  appreciation  of  farm  life." 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OP  AMERICA  17 

THE  STATE  UNIONS  AND  LEGISLATION— WHAT 
THEY  HAVE  DONE  AND  ARE  DOING. 


Alabama. 


In  Alabama  the  organization  was  instrumental  in  secur- 
ing increased  state  aid  for  farm  demonstration  extension. 

It  aided  in  the  passage  of  a  bill  giving  $67,000.00  for 
building  and  repairing  rural  schools  exclusively. 

Also  a  supplemental  appropriation  of  $250,000  for  the 
common  schools. 

It  secured  an  annua]  appropriation  of  $25,000  for  farm 
demonstration  work.  This  is  to  be  supplemented  in  the 
counties  by  county  appropriations  through  the  work  of  the 
county  unions. 

The  $20,000  appropriated  for  county  fairs  is,  through 
the  efforts  of  the  union,  to  be  exclusively  for  premiums  on 
stock  and  agricultural  products.  Each  county  must  con- 
tribute as  much  as  it  gets  from  the  state. 

It  helped  to  abolish  the  lease  system  of  working  con- 
victs, and  provided  that  they  be  used  upon  the  public  roads. 

Arkansas. 

Although  the  Agricultural  Department  of  the  State 
University  has  served  a  great  purpose,  the  farmers  of  Ar- 
kansas realized  that  additional  facilities  were  needed  that  a 
greater  per  cent  of  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  farms  could 
be  placed  in  touch  with  advanced  agricultural  teaching. 
The  Farmers'  Union  asked  the  Legislature  to  establish  four 
Agricultural  Colleges  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  state,  to  be 
located  in  the  county  in  each  section  giving  the  greatest 
bonus..  The  law  was  enacted  and  the  colleges  are  now  in 
operation,  practically  under  the  management  of  the  Organ- 
ization. 

It  asked  for  the  submission  to  the  voters  of  the  state  of 
a  constitutional  amendment  providing  for  the  Initiative  and 
Referendum.  The  amendment  was  ratified  by  a  large  ma- 
jority. 

It  asked  that  corporations  be  allowed  to  reduce  shares 
from  twenty-five  to  five  dollars  each,  which  was  granted. 

It  helped  to  pass  the  pure  feed  bill.  A  law  which  re- 
quires all  commercial  feedstuff  shall  have  the  analysis  and 
the  source  of  the  ingredients  printed  thereon. 


18  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

It  succeeded  in  having  a  law  enacted  allowing  farmers 
to  sell  their  produce  in  any  quantity  in  any  city  or  town 
without  a  license  tax. 

It  supported  a  bill  amending  the  revenue  laws,  which  is 
now  before  the  people  for  a  referendum  vote. 

It  helped  to  get  appropriations  for  the  Agricultural  col- 
leges. 

It  secured  a  law  regulating  male  animals  running  at 
large. 

It  secured  a  law  requiring  railroads  to  furnish  cars  to 
shippers  of  perishable  products  within  twenty-four  hours 
after  receiving  orders. 

It  secured  acts  covering  fertilizer  analysis  and  feed  in- 
spection regulation. 

California. 

The  California  Farmers'  Union  is  asking: 
That  agricultural  instruction  in  the  public  schools  begin 
with  the  primary  grades  in  which  its  importance  to  civiliza- 
tion and  why  it  is  desirable  to  follow  as  a  vocation  shall 
be  given  prominence.  This  is  to  be  followed  in  the  second- 
ary grades  by  teaching  co-operative  methods  of  marketing, 
contrasting  them  with  the  present  methods  of  competition 
and  speculation.  Pupils  in  these  grades  also  to  be  taught 
the  necessity  for  careful  grading  and  standardization  of  all 
products  marketed  from  the  farm. 

National  Legislation. 

The  California  Farmers'  Union  is  also  asking: 
That  the  National  Government  furnish  the  Agricultural 
Departrnent  daily  information  about  markets  which  shall 
be  distributed  among  farmers  in  pamphlet  form  similar  to 
the  consular  reports  now  issued  for  the  benefit  of  manufac- 
turers and  jobbers. 

Colorado. 

A  four  years  high  school  course  was  necessary  for  en- 
trance into  the  Agricultural  College  of  Colorado.  This 
practically  prohibited  a  great  number  of  worthy  young  men 
enjoying  its  advantages.  No  provision  had  been  made  for 
teaching  domestic  science.  To  remedy  this  and  make  the 
Agricultural  College  a  real  farmers'  institution,  the  Farm- 
ers' Union  secured  the  enactment  of  a  law  admitting  stu- 
dents to  a  practical  course  in  agriculture  and  stock  raising 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  19 

from  the  eighth  grade  of  the  country  schools.  This  law 
also  provides  for  a  six  months'  course  of  domestic  'science 
for  the  girls. 

The  Organization  assisted  in  the  campaign  for  the  Initi- 
ative and  Referendum  amendment  to  the  Constitution 
which  carried  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 

It  was  active  in  abolishing  the  "pork  barrel"  methods 
in  legislation,  and  placing  internal  improvements  under  a 
state  highway  commission. 

Florida. 

In  Florida  the  Farmers'  Union  secured  an  appropria- 
tion of  $50,000  for  farm  demonstration  work,  and  $15,000 
for  a  plant  to  manufacture  cholera  serum. 

It  also  succeeded  in  having  uniform  text-books  for  pub- 
lic schools  adopted. 

It  favored  the  law  abolishing  the  convict  lease  system 
which  the  Governor  vetoed. 

The  Florida  division  is  asking  for  a  tax  on  ''invisible" 
property,  stocks,  bonds,  notes,  etc. 

It  is  demanding  three  agricultural  schools,  and  asks  that 
the  tax  now  collected  on  fertilizers  be  set  aside  for  that 
purpose. 

It  wants  the  office  of  treasurer  consolidated. 

It  IS  opposed  to  the  fee  system. 

It  favors  the  Torrens  system  of  land  registration. 

Georgia. 

The  Georgia  F'armers'  Union  secured  the  law  reducing 
railroad  fare. 

It  was  the  main  factor  in  securing  the  establishment  of 
Agricultural  Schools. 

It  has  succeeded  in  getting  quite  an  increase  in  the  pub- 
lic school  funds— from  $800  to  $26,000  a  year. 

It  blocked  the  movement  for  an  appropriation  of  a  large 
sum  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  in  foreign  immigrants. 

The  Farmers'  Union  was  largely  instrumental  in  secur- 
ing the  passage  of  the  income  tax  resolution. 

It  secured  a  law  against  "bucket  shops,"  and  dealing  in 
futures  on  margin. 

(LET  ME  SAY  RTGHT  HERE  THAT  THE  OR- 
GANIZATION HAS  SECURED  ANTI-BUCKET  SHOP 
AND  FUTURE  DEALING  LEGISLATION  IN  EVERY 
COTTON  PRODUCING  STATE  EXCEPT  TWO- 
LOUISIANA  AND  TENNESSEE.  THE  NEW  OR- 
LEANS AND   MEMPHIS   EXCHANGES   HAVE   DE- 


20  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

FEATED  ANTI-FUTURE  DEALING  BILLS,  BUT 
EVEN  THESE  STATES  HAVE  OUTLAY\^ED  THE 
BUCKET  SHOPS.) 

The  Georioia  l"^nion  led  the  fight  for  putting  the  con- 
victs on  the  public  roads.  The  bill  passed  and  the  state 
now  has  her  convicts  at  work  on  her  highways. 

It  favors  the  Torrcns  system  of  land  registration. 

The  last  legislature,  at  the  request  of  the  Farmers' 
Union,  passed  a  fertilizer  bill  which  forces  the  manufac- 
turers to  sell  what  they  claim  to  sell  under  penalty  of  for- 
feiting one-half  the  purchase  price.  (This  is  noteworthy  be- 
cause of  the  fact  that  the  only  Farmers'  Union  fertilizer 
plant  of  any  magnitude  is  in  Georgia.) 

It  secured  an  increase  of  $40,000  for  Agricultural 
College  Extension  work. 

It  helped  to  secure  a  new  State  Educational  Board. 

Kentucky. 

The  social  centers  of  the  rural  communities  of  America 
are  the  neighborhood  chiirches  and  the  district  schools.  No 
more  fitting  place  can  be  found  for  assembling  to  discuss 
questions  affecting  the  welfare  of  a  community  than  the 
public  school  building.  Every  citizen  takes  a  just  pride  in 
the  educational  institutions  that  dot  the  landscape  as  mon- 
uments of  an  advancing  civilization.  It  is  right  and  proper 
that  they  should  serve  as  a  forum  for  the  enlightenment  of 
the  people.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  99  per  cent  of  the  thou- 
sands of  local  organizations  of  the  Farmers'  Union  hold 
their  meetings  in  the  public  school  buildings.  Their  doers 
are  thrown  open  for  the  use  of  the  locals  in  every  state  in 
which  we  have  organized  except  Kentucky.  Despite  the 
fact  that  the  laws  of  this  state  refuse  the  use  of  the  chool 
buildings  to  secret  societies,  the  organization,  though  hand- 
icapped, as  can  readily  be  seen,  has  had  a  wonderful  growth. 
R.  L.  Barnett,  who  organized  the  state  and  has  served  con- 
tinuously as  State  Secretary,  together  with  the  Legislative 
Committee,  is  working  hard  to  have  this  law  repealed  and 
thus  remove  a  great  barrier  to  the  progress  of  the  Farmers' 
Union. 

Louisiana. 

The  Louisiana  Division  is  asking  for : 

A  Constitutional  amendment  providing  for  the  Initia- 
tive and  Referendum. 

An  amendment  to  the  law  relating  to  the  issue  of  cou- 
pon checks  in  payment  for  labor. 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  21 

The  repeal  of  the  Marks  school  law. 

The  repeal  of  the  act  creating  the  office  of  Registrar  of 
Voters  and  to  place  this  duty  upon  the  assessors. 

The  repeal  of  the  Primary  Election  La\V  in  so  far  as  it 
relates  to  the  registration  of  party  affiliation. 

For  a  law  prohibiting  dealing  in  futures  on  margin. 

Mississippi. 

Therarmers'  Union  of  Mississippi  has  worked  for  and 
secured  a  laAv  creating  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture. 

It  helped  to  get  the  High  School  law. 

It  aided  in  obtaining  the  Normal  Training  School  for 
teachers. 

It  was  very  active  in  defeating  the  efforts  to  repeal  the 
law  limiting  corporate  ownership  of  land  to  $2,000,000. 

It  aroused  the  people  and  prevented  the  creation  of  an 
Immigration  Commission,  the  purpose  of  which  was  to  dis- 
tribute foreign  immigrants  and  cheap  laborers  throughout 
the  state. 

It  is  asking  for  a  reduction  of  the  contract  rate  of  in- 
terest from  10  to  8  per 'cent. 

It  favors  exempting  money  loaned  at  six  per  cent,  pro- 
vided the  contract  rate  is  reduced  to  eight. 

It  favors  the  enactment  of  a  law  prohibiting  individuals 
from  ownmg  farm  lands  in  excess  of  one  million  dollars  in 
value. 

It  is  opposed  to  allowing  corporations  owning  any  lands 
for  agricultural   purposes. 

It  favors  a  law  that  will  place  the  convicts  at  work  on 
the  public  roads. 

It  favors  creating  the  office  of  County  Commissioner 
of  Agriculture. 

North  Carolina. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature  the  Farmers' 
Union  helped  to  secured  the  passage  of  the  Farm  Life  School 
bill.  It  also  worked  for  the  adoption  of  the  Torrens  system 
of  land  registration,  but  the  measure  failed  to  pass. 

The  Farm.ers'  Union  of  North  Carolina  .secured  the 
passage  of  an  act  requiring  at  least  a  six  months'  term  of 
the  public  school,  with  compulsory  attendance. 

South  Carolina. 

The  Farmers'  TJnion  in  South  Carolina  advocated  all  the 


22  VHK  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

measures  relating  to  the  establishment  of  the  present  State 
Department  of  Agriculture,  Commerce  and  Industries. 

It  succeeded  in  having  all  provisions  for  immigration 
work  stricken  from  the  laws  of  the  state. 

It  advocated  and  secured  the  passage  of  nearly  all  of 
the  labor  laAvs,  including  the  factory  inspection  act. 

It  secured  the  passage  of  the  model  commercial  feed 
stuffs  act;  and  the  seed  inspection  law;  and  a  law  regulating 
cotton  tare. 

It  is  asking  for  a  law  providing  for  complete  cotton 
statistics  to  be  reported   during  the  season. 

It  wants  amendments  to  strengthen  the  pure  food  and 
drug  act. 

It  Avants  agricultural  secondary  education  in  the  public 
schools. 

Tennessee. 

The  Farmers'  Union  in  Tennessee  helped  to  secure  an 
appropriation  for  the  extension  of  farm  demonstration  work. 

It  secured  a  joint  resolution  of  the  Legislature,  and 
signed  by  the  Governor,  condemning  the  efforts  of  the  Im- 
migration Department  of  the  National  Government  to  dis- 
tribute undesirable  foreign  immigrants  in  the  state  and  in 
the  South. 

It  supported  the  bills  for  the  rigid  inspection  of  stock 
foods,  seeds  and  fertilizers. 

It  opposed  the  efforts  of  the  big  shippers  to  place  the 
responsibility  for  the  adulteration  of  seeds  upon  the  retail 
merchants. 

It  secured  a  law  against  bucket  shops. 

It  is  asking  for  a  law  against  dealing  in  futures  on 
margin. 

It  is  asking  for  a  law  against  the  white  slave  trade. 

Texas. 

The  Farmers'  Union  in  Texas  secured  a  law  separating 
the  Agricultural  Department  from  several  other  depart- 
ments and  making  it  an  independent  institution. 

It  had  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  made  elective. 

It  secured  a  law  requiring  the  State  A.  &  M.  College  to 
teach  cotton  grading  and  classification.  (THE  ORGAN- 
IZATION HAD  CARRIED  ON  THIS  WORK  IN  VARI- 
OUS STATES,  AND  INDEPENDENT  SCHOOLS 
WERE  TEACHING  IT  AS  A  PART  OF  THE  CURRI- 
CULUM BUT  THIS  Vv^AS  THE  FIRST  TIME  IT  WAS 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  23 

REQUIRED  BY  LAW  TO  BE  TAUGHT  IN  A  STATE 
INSTITUTION.) 

It  helped  secure  the  law  requiring  agriculture  to  be 
taught  in  the  public  schools. 

It  secured  the  passage  of  the  law  against  bucket  shops 
and  outlawed  the  practice  of  dealing  in  futures  on  margin. 

It  secured  a  law  preventing  railroads  from  issuing  free 
passes,  with  certain  exceptions. 

It  secured  a  reduction  of  freight  rates  on  cotton. 

Washington. 

The  Union  in  Washington  has  been  instrumental  in  se- 
curing much  needed  legislation,  most  important  of  which 
was  the  INITIATIVE,  REFERENDUM  and  RECALL. 


AGRICULTURAL  PROGRESS  COMPARISON. 

(From  an  editorial  by  T.  J.  Brooks) 


The  Farmers'  Union  started  out  on  its  career  fighting 
the  credit  and  mortgage  system.  To  help  in  this  it  urged 
diversified  farming  and,  better  methods  of  marketing.  As 
a  result  the  states  where  it  has  worked  longest  have  pro- 
gressed faster  than  others.  The  organization  has  been  the 
means  of  getting  the  agricultural  departments  of  the  states 
and  the  National  Government  and  the  farmers  together  as 
never  before  in  the  history  of  the  country. 

The  percentage  of  gain  in  the  value  of  farm  products 
for  the  entire  country  for  the  decade  ending  with  1910  was 
81  per  cent,  and  for  the  Farmers'  Union  states  108  per  cent. 

The  value  of  the  1910  crop  of  the  entire  country  was 
worth  $105,102,000  less  than  that  of  1909.  In  the  Farmers' 
Union  states  it  was  worth  $183,034,000  more.  The  percent- 
age of  loss  in  the  non-union  states  was  3.6  per  cent  and  the 
per  cent  of  gain  in  the  Union  states  was  10  per  cent. 

Just  because  some  people  will  put  Southern  diversity 
solely  to  the  credit  of  the  boll  weevil,  I'll  take  a  cotton 
state  that  the  boll  weevil  has  never  reached  and  make  some 
comparisons. 

Georgia's  gain  in  crop  values  in  eleven  years  has  been 
188  per  cent,  rier  1910  crops  other  than  cotton  were  worth 
nearly  as  much  as  the  cotton  and  all  others  combined 
eleven  years  ago.     In  1899  Georgia  was  surpassed  in  crop 


24  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

value  production  by  Ohio,  Minnesota,  New  York,  Kansas, 
^,  Indiana,  Missouri,  Pennsylvania  and  Nebraska  in  the  order 
named.     Now  she  leads  them  all. 

The  cotton  crop  of  1899  was  worth  only  $376,566,000, 
which  is  little  more  than  the  value  of  the  Texas  crop  of 
1910.  The  crop  of  all  the  cotton  states  for  1910  was  ap- 
proximately $810,000,000.  This  increase  of  values  was  due 
more  to  increase  in  price  than  to  increase  in  production.  At 
the  1899  price  the  1910  crop  would  have  brought  only  about 
$450,000,000.     See? 

The  period  between  1899  and  1910  has  been  one  of  mar- 
velous agricultural  development  in  the  United  States.  Its 
like  has  never  been  witnessed  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
In  that  short  time  the  value  of  crops  has  increased  by  188 
per  cent  in  Georgia,  173  per  cent  in  South  Carolina,  140 
per  cent  in  Texas,  129  per  cent  in  North  Carolina,  119  per 
cent  in  Alabama,  115  per  cent  in  Arkansas,  126  per  cent  in 
Florida,  79  per  cent  in  Mississippi,  226  per  cent  in  Okla- 
homa, 72  per  cent  in  Virginia,  69  per  cent  in  Kentucky,  47 
per  cent  in  Louisiana,  and  81  per  cent  in  Tennessee. 

Why  is  it  that  the  Farmers'  Union  states  are  forging 
ahead  of  non-union  states  ?  Compare  these  figures  and  then 
be  good  enough  to  admit  that  the  Farmers'  Union  has  not 
done  these  states  any  harm.  Another  point.  You  know 
the  boll  weevil  ''ruined  Texas"  (?).  Well,  the  pesky  thing 
has  shown  the  world  that  the  South  can  flourish  without 
cotton.     So  if  the  price  don't  suit,  just  quit  raising  it. 


WHAT  WE  HAVE  DONE  AND  ARE  DOING 

(a)  In  the  Cotton  Belt. 

That  the  reader  may  grasp  the  significance  of  the  state- 
ments to  be  made  under  this  heading,  it  may  be  well  to  re- 
iterate some  things  that  were  mentioned  in  the  preface  to 
this  book.  The  chief  object  of  a  great  farmers'  movement, 
and  the  only  one  for  which  it  can  claim  the  support  of  the 
American  farmer,  is  to  work  out  a  solution  to  the  crop 
marketing  problem.  Ihis  policy  has  not  been  adhered  to 
by  the  FARMERS'  UNION  with  stupid  rigidity,  to  the 
neglect  of  weighty  matters  that  from  time  to  time  have 
developed  locally  and  sectionally,  as  has  been  shown  on 
preceding  pages,  but  in  the  main  the  greater  activities  of 
the  organization  have  been  devoted  to  this  particular  field. 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  2  5 

Originating  in  a  great  cotton  producing  state — Texas 
— naturally  the  question  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the 
founders  of  the  order  was,  how  can  the  farmer  secure  a 
fair  and  equitable  price  for  this  great  cash  crop  of  the 
South?  (Let  it  be  remembered  that  adversity  and  not  pros- 
perity gave  birth  to  the  Farmers'  Union.  Prosperous  farm- 
ers have  very  little  inclination  to  organize.  It  matters  not 
that  other  business  interests  find  it  expedient,  even  in  times 
of  the  greatest  prosp«^ly,  to  co-operate  that  they  may  the 
more  easily  perpetuate  conditions  that  give  rise  to  their 
w^ealth — the  farmer  is  too  self-satisfied  to  concern  himself 
with  such  business  tactics.  It  is  only  when  the  iron  heel  of 
an  oppressive  and  iniquitous  system  grinds  out  the  last 
penny  of  profit  for  his  labor  and  leave  him  and  his  family 
with  scant  food  and  scantier  raiment  that  he  becomes  will- 
ing to  profit  by  the  examples  of  big  business  and  organize 
for  his  own  protection.) 

The  price  of  most  staple  farm  crops  is  fixed  and  con- 
trolled largely  by  speculators  and  middlemen  operating 
upon  the  boards  of  trade  and  exchanges.  Upon  no  crop 
are  the  effects  of  the  fictitious  price  maintained  by  this 
system  of  control  more  noticeable  than  upon  cotton.  That 
practically  no  facilities  existed  for  storing  and  holding  cot- 
ton at  interior  points  has  been  a  great  boon  to  exchange 
operators,  because  this  lack  has  forced  the  sale  of  a  greater 
portion  of  the  crop  direct  from  the  gin  and  demoralized 
markets  throughout  the  harvesting  season  have  been  the 
inevitable  result.  To  provide  means  for  storing  and  hold- 
ing, that  distribution  might  be  made  more  uniform  through- 
out the  year,  the  policy  of  building  local  warehouses  to  be 
owned  and  operated  by  the  membership  was  early  ad- 
vocated by  the  Organization. 

It  is  rather  difficult  to  convey  an  accurate  conception 
of  the  rapidity  with  w^hich  this  movement  spread.  Some 
idea,  however,  of  its  magnitude  may  be  gained  by  the  state- 
ment that  within  less  than  five  years  the  organization  had 
spread  into  practically  every  cotton  producing  state,  and 
simultaneously  with  the  development  of  the  Union,  ware- 
houses were  built  so  that  at  the  end  of  that  time  nearly 
every  county  had  one  or  more  warehouses  in  operation. 

These  local  warehouses  have  been  the  basis  of  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Farmers'  Union  in  the  South.  It  has  been  the 
policy  of  the  National  Union  from  time  to  time  to  fix  a 
minimum  price  on  cotton  and  to  call  upon  the  membership 
to  withhold  from  the  market  until  such  time  as  this  price 
could  be  obtained.     These  holding  movements,  though  en- 


26  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

tirely  voluntary  on  the  part  of  the  membership,  have  been 
uniformly  successful  because  of  the  strength  of  the  local 
warehouse  system.  It  must  not  be  understood  that  these 
efforts  to  prolong  the  marketing  period  have  not  invariably 
resulted  in  securing  the  price  agreed  upon,  but  the  effect, 
in  years  when  proper  determination  was  shown,  has  been 
such  upon  the  market  that  a  much  better  price,  without 
exception,  has  resulted  than  would  have  otherwise  obtained. 

No  data  is  at  hand  to  give  the  exact  saving  in  dollars 
and  cents  to  the  farmers  of  the  South  as  a  direct  result  of 
these  holding  movements,  but  that  the  sum  total  runs  into 
the  millions  is  evident  when  we  reflect  that  the  price  has 
been  gradually  forced  upward  from  five  and  six  cents  per 
pound  to  ten,  twelve,  and  even  fifteen  cents  per  pound,  and 
that  during  each  of  the  past  ten  years  there  have  been  mar- 
keted from  eight  to  fourteen  million  bales. 

Time  has  served  to  show  the  strength  and  also  the 
weakness  of  the  warehouse  system.  Though  very  useful  it 
is  by  no  means  perfect.  The  isolation  of  the  warehouses 
under  independent  management  has  hampered  largely  any 
effort  at  co-operative  marketing.  Working  independently, 
the  difficulty  of  securing  sufficient  funds  to  loan  on  "dis- 
tress'' cotton  has  been  very  great  in  some  sections  at  least. 
The  determination  to  strengthen  this  weakness  has  given 
rise  to  the  widespread  effort  to  federate  or  amalgamate  the 
warehouse  interests  of  each  state  into  one  co-operative  com- 
pany under  a  single  management.  It  may  with  safety  be 
predicted  that  within  a  short  time  the  system  of  warehous- 
ing and  selling  cotton  will  be  greatly  strengthened  by  the 
federation  of  interests,  both  state  and  nationally. 

(b)  In  the  Tobacco  Belt. 

The  necessity  for  organized  effort  to  break  the  power 
of  the  trust  that  has  fastened  its  tentacles  upon  them,  has 
long  been  felt  by  the  tobacco  producers  of  Kentucky,  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina.  The  coming  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  offered  the  opportunity  and  the  farmers  of  the  to- 
bacco belt  were  not  slow  to  align  themselves  with  the  move- 
ment. The  description  of  conditions  surrounding  the  cotton 
producer,  tending  to  circumscribe  his  influence  as  an  indi- 
vidual over  the  distribution  of  the  product  of  his  labor,  ap- 
plies with  equal  force  to  the  producer  of  tobacco.  For  that 
matter  the  methods  of  those  who  seek  to  control  the  distri- 
bution and  price  of  farm  crops  of  whatever  character,  are 
strikingly  similar.    Whatever  the  crop,  the  farmer  is  given 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  27 

e.very  encouragement  to  increase  its  output,  except  the 
greatest  one  of  all — an  equitable  price,  but  the  "interests" 
are  careful  to  see  that  he  has  no  part  in  controlling  the 
equipment  necessary  for  preparing  his  article  for  market 
after  it  has  been  produced.  If  he  complains  of  the  price,  he 
is  cheerfully  told  to  double  the  increase  of  his  acres  with  the 
same  labor  and  the  price  will  be  satisfactory.  Meanwhile 
the  cotton  warehouses,  grain  elevators  and  tobacco  prizing 
houses  are  owned  and  operated  by  merchants  and  jobbers 
who  have  no  other  inteV;st  than  to  buy  the  raw  product  at 
the  lowest  possible  price  and  sell  it  for  as  much  as  the  trade 
will  stand. 

Having  no  prizing  houses  nor  storage  houses,  the  to- 
bacco farmer  has  been  forced  to  sell  his  crop  at  whatever 
price  was  agreed  upon  by  the  interests.  No  attempt  has 
been  made  to  acquaint  the  farmer  with  facts  as  to  the 
quantity  on  hands  in  warehouses,  the  world's  demands,  etc., 
all  of  which  have  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  price  of  his 
product,  therefore,  he  has  sold  his  commodity  absolutely 
in  the  dark. 

These  conditions  are  being  rapidly  changed  by  the 
Farmers'  Union.  The  membership  is  being  urged  to  erect 
its  own  prizing  houses,  storage  houses  and  tobacco  fac- 
tories. They  are  rapidly  learning  the  advantage  of  pooling 
interests,  and  wherever  this  has  been  done  in  a  business- 
like manner  the  results  have  been  very  marked.  The  to- 
bacco farmer,  like  the  cotton  farmer,  is  learning  that  our 
boasted  rights  of  the  individual  count  for  but  very  little 
when  pitted  against  the  cold  blooded  business  practices  of 
this  commercial  age.  As  a  result,  individual  sales  are  giving 
place  to  co-operative  sales.  Through  the  prizing  and  stor- 
age houses  erected  by  them,  the  tobacco  belt  farmers  have 
pooled  and  sold  thousands  of  pounds  of  tobacco  and  since 
beginning  these  cooperative  practices  the  price  has  steadily 
advanced. 

(c)  In  the  Grain  Belt. 

With  the  exception  of  Illinois,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Colo- 
rado, Washington  and  Oregon,  that  have  for  some  time 
been  organized  as  divisions  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  the 
organization  is  just  beginning  to  reach  the  grain  belt  states. 
The  brief  sketches  given  of  the  character  of  work  done  in 
the  cotton  and  tobacco  belts  of  the  country,  had  reference 
to  the  entire  territory  embraced  in  the  production  of  those 
crops,    because    the    Farmers'    Union    is    well    represented 


28  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

throughout  those  sections.  In  givmg  the  results  of  co- 
0.  operative  efforts  of  marketing  grain  by  the  Farmers'  Union, 
we  shall  have  to  confine  ourselves  to  a  very  small  portion 
of  the  grain  belt.  The  demand  for  the  organization  has 
been  greater  than  the  supply  of  available  organizers,  but 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  all  the  grain  states,  from  which  are 
coming  insistently  requests  for  organizers,  will  be  supplied. 
Although  the  efforts  to  co-operate  in  marketing  grain 
by  the  organization  have  been  restricted  to  a  small  area,  we 
believe  a  comparison  will  show  that  the  results  compare 
very  favorably,  taking  into  account  the  territory  covered 
and  the  number  of  members  with  those  secured  where  the 
organization  is  stronger  numerically — in  the  cotton  and  to- 
bacco belts.  As  suggested  under  a  previous  heading,  the 
grain  farmer  stands  on  a  parity  with  his  brothers  of  the 
cotton  and  tobacco  sections  so  far  as  being  able  to  price 
the  product  of  his  labor  is  concerned.  About  the  only  dif- 
ference between  them  is,  his  product  is  packed  in  sacks 
whereas  theirs  is  packed  in  bales  or  hogsheads.  The  same 
routine  identically  is  gone  through  with.  The  middleman 
or  perhaps  a  dozen  of  them  step  in  between  the  farmer  and 
the  consumer.  He  has  sold  his  crop  at  harvest  time  for 
whatever  the  market  offered  and  has  given  some  one  a 
handsome  profit  for  holding  it  until  the  world  needs  it. 

In  the  case  of  the  Northwestern  wheat  grower,  who 
produces  a  superior  article  of  export,  the  interior  warehouses 
and  terminal  elevators  ov/ned  and  operated  by  jobbers  have 
kept  him  at  their  mercy.  About  the  only  thing  he  could 
do  was  to  sell  outright  at  his  shipping  point.  The  teach- 
ings of  the  Farmers'  Union,  however,  opened  an  avenue  of 
escape  and  he  has  laken  advantage  of  it.  A  policy  sug- 
gested early  in  the  organization  of  this  territory,  which  in- 
cludes Washington,  Oregon  and  Idaho,  was  the  erection  of 
interior  warehouses  by  the  membership  and  the  leasing  or 
building  of  terminal  elevators  at  the  ports  by  a  joint  com- 
pany. This  policy  met  with  the  ^  instant  approval  of  the 
farmers  and  today  they  have  in  operation  a  number  of 
warehouses  and  terminal  elevators  in  Portland,  Oregon, 
and  one  at  Seattle,  Washington. 

The  Washington  state  division  and  the  National  Union 
co-operated  in  sending  a  representative  of  the  Farmers' 
Union  to  Europe  to  arrange  European  connections  in  selling 
their  wheat.  The  trip  was  entirely  successful  and  at  last 
the  wheat  farmers  of  the  great  Northwest  are  conducting  a 
successful  co-operative  marketing  system. 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  29 

(d)  In  a  Variety  of  Things 

In  addition  to  marketing  the  staple  farm  crops  peculiar 
to  the  sections  now  occupied  by  the  Farmers'  Union,  the 
organization  has,  in  a  number  of  states,  found  it  necessary 
to  pay  special  attention  to  the  marketing  of  fruits  and  per- 
ishable products.  Especially  is  this  true  in  California,  where 
practically  all  of  the  members  are  interested  in  producing 
one  or  more  of  the  delicious  fruits  for  which  that  state  is 
famous.  Where  the  fruit  or  vegetable  interests  are  of  suf- 
ficient magnitude  to  w^ant  the  venture,  the  method  most 
commonly  pursued  in  disposing  of  the  product  has  been  to 
form,  a  special  organization  or  company,  in  many  cases  in- 
corporated, which  is  given  certain  duties  as  an  agent,  and 
in  consideration  for  the  service  rendered  the  growers  enter 
into  specific  contracts  with  reference  to  the  handling  of 
their  crops. 

To  solve  the  crop  marketing  problem  is  the  one  great 
object  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  but,  magnificent  as  has  been 
the  results  of  efforts  along  that  line  and  fraught  with  such 
tremendous  importance  as  will  be  the  ultimate  solution  to 
this  question,  the  usefulness  of  the  organization  to  the  great 
body  of  farmers  does  not  end  there.  It  has  proven  a  most 
excellent  means  of  assisting  them  in  buying  their  supplies 
advantageously.  A  statement  made  by  one  of  the  promi- 
nent workers  in  his  argument  in  support  of  co-operation 
among  farmers  will  serve  to  illustrate  a  condition  to  offset 
which  the  Union  has  in  a  large  measure  turned  its  attention. 
This  gentleman  said:  "FARMERS  ARE  THE  ONLY 
CLASS  OF  PEOPLE  WHO  SELL  AT  WHOLESALE 
AND  BUY  AT  RETAIL."  A  moment's  reflection  will 
show  you  the  truth  of  the  statement.  This  method,  directly 
the  opposite  of  that  pursued  by  any  other  class  of  business 
men  in  the  world,  has  been  changed  in  a  number  of  locali- 
ties by  members  of  the  Union,  making  purchases  by  the 
local  rather  than  mdividually. 

So  many  and  so  varied  are  the  uses  to  which  the  or- 
ganization has  been  put  in  assisting  its  members,  that  rather 
than  attempt  to  cover  them  in  a  general  way  I  shall  briefly 
outline  some  of  the  enterprises  now  being  conducted  in 
each  of  the  twenty-one  states,  omitting  any  reference,  of 
course,  to  the  handling  of  the  staple  crop  of  that  section, 
as  that  has  been  touched  upon  in  a  previous  chaper. 


30  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

By  States. 

ALABAMA. — The  farmers  of  Alabama  use  annually 
vast  quantities  of  fertilizer.  Through  contracts  made  by 
the  state  officials  with  fertilizer  factories,  the  price  has  been 
materially  reduced  and  the  members  have  been  saved  thou- 
sands of  dollars.  Great  saving  has  also  been  effected  in  the 
purchase  of  flour,  groceries,  implements,  dry  goods,  etc. 

Locally  the  members  have  in  operation  forty-one  stores, 
twenty-nine  gins,  and  five  fertilizer  factories  and  mixers, 
and  a  number  of  warehouses  erected  for  the  seed  trade 
alone. 

The  farmers  of  Alabama  have  not  hesitated  to  invest  in 
the  things  essential  to  the  furthering  of  their  interests. 

ARKANSx\S. — The  Farmers'  Union  Cotton  Company 
of  Arkansas  has  handled  very  successfully  a  large  amount 
of  cotton  for  the  membership,  on  the  commission  basis. 
The  season  of  1911-12  has  been  one  of  the  best  years  of 
the  company's  history. 

In  addition  to  a  number  of  gins  and  cotton  seed  houses 
owned  and  operated  by  the  members,  they  have  established 
in  a  number  of  localities  mercantile  establishments,  some 
of  which  claim  to  be  operating  upon  a  co-operative  basis. 

Perhaps  the  most  remunerative  enterprise  has  been  the 
sale,  through  the  Union,  of  small  fruits  and  vegetables  for 
which  certain  localities  are  famous.  In  quite  a  number  of 
the  shipping  centers  the  Farmers'  Union  has  absolute 
charge  of  all  packing  and  shipping  and  marketing. 

The  State  Union  owns  its  official  organ,  the  RURAL 
EDUCATOR,  and  is  now  arranging  to  purchase  a  press 
and  other  office  equipment  to  cheapen  the  cost  of  printing 
the  paper. 

CALIFORNIA. — A  very  successful  business  enterprise 
conducted  by  the  members  in  California  is  the  California 
Farmers'  Union,  Incorporated,  of  Fresno.  The  organiza- 
tion in  California  is  confined  for  the  most  part  to  that  sec- 
tion of  the  state  which  produces  the  dried  and  canned  fruits 
so  much  in  demand  by  the  markets  all  over  the  world. 
These  fruits  are  packed  or  canned  by  local  companies  in 
their  own  packing  houses  and  the  sale  is  made  by  the  Cen- 
tral Company  under  contract.  This  company  sends  many 
car  loads  of  these  fruits  to  the  Eastern  United  States  and 
to  England,  Germany  and  other  European  countries.  The 
quality  of  the  packing  and  the  safe  methods  of  business 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  31 

employed  enables  it  to  do  a  business  of  several  hundred 
thousand  dollars  annually. 

COLORADO. — The  State  Union  conducts  a  depart- 
ment known  as  the  buying  and  selling  agency,  with  offices 
at  357  Railway  Exchange  Building,  Denver. 

There  are  several  fruit  companies  as  well  as  a  number 
of  local  companies  that  handle  melons,  canteloupes,  etc. 

The  Uiiion  State  Bank  at  Rifle  has  a  capitalization  of 
$25,000.  V 

There  "are  a  numbed  of  mercantile  establishments  and 
creameries  located  in  various  parts  of  the  state. 

A  worthy  institution  is-  the  FARMERS'  MINING, 
MILLS  AND  MERCANTILE  COMPANY,  of  Glenwood 
Springs.  This  company  owns  a  coal  mine  and  flour  mill 
and  manufactures  the  Farmers'  Union  brand  of  flour  and 
breakfast  foods. 

The  membership  in  Colorado  has  a  greater  diversity  of 
enterprises  than  any  other  state. 

FLORIDA. — Florida  has  a  number  of  mercantile  estab- 
lishments that  handle  the  produce  of  the  membership  and 
sells  them  farm  supplies  at  a  great  saving.  The  farmers 
have  shown  some  activity  in  procuring  gin  machinery  and 
other  equipment  that  will  reduce  the  cost  to  them  of  pre- 
paring their  product  for  market.  The  enterprises  of  Florida, 
while  not  numerous,  will  compare  very  favorably  in  re- 
sults with  those  of  the  other  states. 

GEORGIA. — One  of  the  largest  and  most  successful 
strictly  co-operative  enterprises  conducted  by  the  members 
of  the  Farmers'  L'uion  is  the  Union  Phosphate  Company 
of  Georgia,  with  offices  at  Union  City.  This  company 
owns  its  own  phosphate  factory  and  600  acres  of  phosphate 
land.  The  company  is  said  to  have  over  five  thousand 
stockholders. 

ILLINOIS. — So  diversified  are  the  farm  products  of 
the  portion  of  Illinois  now  covered  by  the  organization, 
that  the  members  have  found  it  necessary  to  form  local 
associations  to  handle  the  products  peculiar  to  their  section, 
and  to  purchase  their  supplies.  These  clearing  houses  or 
exchanges  have  been  uniformly  successful  in  i^ecuring  fair 
prices  for  products  and  have  saved  the  members  consider- 
able by  purchasing  supplies  at  wholesale.  A  number  of 
mercantile  establishments  with  ample  capital  for  conduct- 
ing a  successful  business,  are  now  in  operation. 


32  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL,  AND 

The  Farmers'  Union  Milling  and  Supply  Company  of 
Tamaroa  is  an  incorporated  company  with  $10,000  capitali- 
zation. This  company  operates  a  sixty-barrel-a-day  flour, 
meal  and  feed  mill,  and  carries  a  line  of  farm  implements. 

INDIANA. — The  County  Unions  of  Indiana  have  or- 
ganized county  exchanges  to  handle  their  live  stock  and 
other  farm  products.  Several  counties  have  built  elevators 
to  handle  their  grain  crops  and  the  companies  operating 
them  usually  carry  a  line  of  farm  implements  and  other 
farm  supplies. 

'''KANSAS. — Kansas  has  eighteen  (18)  Co-operative 
Associations  owned  by  members  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 
These  associations  have  paid  dividends  ranging  from  ten  to 
twenty-five  per  cent.  They  handle  all  farm  products  for 
the  members  and  buy  supplies  in  wholesale  quantities.  The 
handling  of  grain  through  their  own  elevators  has  been  so 
successful  that  some  of  the  associations  are  now  contemplat- 
ing the  erection  of  flouring  mills  at  convenient  points. 

One  of  the  most  successful  of  these  associations  is  the 
Osborne  County  Farmers'  Union  Co-Operative  Association, 
chartered  with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000.00.  It  conducts 
business  at  three  places,  Osborne,  Downs  and  Portis. 
Through  operations  of  this  association,  farmers  have  re- 
ceived seven  cents  more  per  bushel  for  their  wheat,  and  the 
price  of  flour  has  been  reduced  to  the  consumer  thirty  cents 
per  barrel.  The  Association  handles  immense  quantities 
of  coal  oil.  lumber,  coal,  fence  posts,  etc. 

Possibly  the  greatest  benefit  the  organization  has  been 
to  the  farmers  of  the  state,  members  and  non-members 
alike,  in  a  material  sense,  is  the  fact  that  through  its  efforts 
binder  twine  can  now  be  bought  direct  from  the  state  for 
about  one-third  the  price  formerly  charged  by  dealers. 

The  members  in  Kansas  are  kept  thoroughly  posted 
about  Union  affairs  through  the  columns  of  their  own  state 
paper,  which  is  sent  to  every  member  in  good  standing. 

*For  some  reason  the  Kansas  officials  failed  to  get  their 
report  of  business  enterprises  to  the  office  in  time  for  this 
edition,  and  for  that  reason  we  have  made  excerpts  from 
the  former  edition  of  this  booklet.  This  is  a  source  of  re- 
gret to  us,  because  the  membership  has  more  than  doubled 
in  that  state  within  the  past  year  and  we  feel  sure  that 
many  more  enterprises  of  merit  are  in  operation  than  we 
have  been  able  to  list. 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  33 

KENTUCKY. — Most  of  the  efforts  of  the  organization 
in  this  state  have  been  devoted  to  the  marketing  of  the  to- 
bacco crop,  yet  they  have  found  time  to  establish  in  several 
counties  Produce  Stock  Companies  that  have  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  handling  farm  products  and  merchandise.  Some 
of  the  warehouses,  in  addition  to  selling  tobacco,  have  ar- 
ranged to  sell  live  stock  and  other  products  for  the  mem- 
bership. They  also  have  established  at  Fulton  a  flouring 
mill  and  elevator  under  the  control  of  a  company  capitalized 
at  $13,000.  There  are  fifteen  accredited  agents  representing 
the  Farmers'  Union  m  t^it  purchase  of  farm  supplies.  The 
farmers  of  Kentucky  are  alive  to  the  usefulness  of  the 
organization. 

LOUISIANA. — The  state  business  agent  represents  the 
Trades'  Association  composed  of  all  the  cotton  warehouses 
of  the  state.  As  these  local  companies  must  maintain  a 
local  agent  through  a  great  portion  of  the  year  at  least, 
it  has  been  found  practical  to  have  them  handle  syrup,  po- 
tatoes, peanuts,  live  stock  and  other  farm  products  for  the 
members.  To  greatl)^  strengthen  her  companies  and  place 
them  on  a  sound  business  basis,  Louisiana  is  now  planning 
to  federate  them  and  charter  one  company  Avith  ample  cap- 
ital to  meet  all  business  requirements. 

MISSISSIPPI. — The  State  Union  has  an  excellent 
means  of  communication  with  its  members  by  owning  its  of- 
ficial paper,  which  is  sent  to  every  member  in  good  stand- 
ing. 

MISSOURI. — This  is  another  state  in  which  the  pro- 
ducts are  so  diversified  that  it  has  become  expedient  for  the 
members  to  engage  in  a  great  variety  of  enterprises.  They 
have  established  eleven  incorporated  mercantile  houses 
whose  combined  capital  stock  amounts  to  $150,000.  In 
addition  to  these  there  are  125  smaller  stores  located  in 
different  parts  of  the  state.  There  are  in  successful  opera- 
tion a  large  number  of  creameries,  some  of  which  have  had 
to  run  at  full  capacity  day  and  night  to  accommodate  the 
trade.    All  of  them  have  a  ready  market  for  their  products. 

NORTH  CAROLINA.— North  Carolina  uses  vast 
quantities  of  fertilizers  and  the  organization  encourages 
home  mixing  by  assisting  the  members  in  buying  the  raw 
material  at  a  saving  of  from  $3  to  $5  per  ton.  Co-operative 
stores  have  sprung  up  in  different  sections  of  the  state 
that  furnish  goods  to  the  members  at  a  slight  advance  of 
cost.     By  acting  in  a  co-operative  way,  business  arrange- 


34  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

ments  have  been  made  for  furnishing  agricultural  imple- 
ments at  wholesale  prices.  This  state  has  entered  upon  an 
active  campaign  for  building  warehouses  for  cotton  and 
tobacco. 

O'KLAHOMA. — This  state  is  interested  in  the  produc- 
tion of  wheat  as  well  as  cotton,  and  the  membership  has 
erected  mills  for  -manufacturing  their  own  flour.  Several 
stores  and  co-operative  associations  of  various  kinds  have 
been  established. 

OREGON.^The  Oregon  division  includes  the  south- 
ern counties  of  Idaho.  Reference  has  already  been  made  to 
the  work  done  by  this  division  co-operating  with  the  Wash- 
ington State  Union,  in  handling  the  grain  of  the  North- 
west. The  Secretary  assures  me  that  the  saving  on  grain 
alone  has  run  into  the  millions  of  dollars. 

Old  line  companies  have  been  forced  to  handle  their 
business  on  a  margin  of  one-half  cent  instead  of  from  5c 
to  10c,  as  was  formerly  the  case.  Through  the  Terminal 
Warehouse  Company,  counties  that  do  not  raise  wheat  are 
enabled  to  buy  a  first  class  grade  at  the  actual  market  in- 
stead of  about  50  per  cent  above  the  real  market — a  condi- 
tion that  existed  for  a  number  of  years. 

Three  flour  mills  are  in  operation  that  not  only  secure 
better  prices  for  the  wheat,  but  materially  reduce  the  cost 
of  flour  to  consumers. 

Oregon  has  three  Exchanges  handling  almost  all  farm 
products  and  buying  such  staple  goods  as  are  wanted  by 
the  members. 

The  two  general  merchandise  stores  operated  on  the 
Rochdale  plan  report  a  very  large  volume  of  business. 

Most  of  the  locals  act  in  a  co-operative  way  in  buying 
wood,  coal,  salt,  binder  twine,  grain  bags,  posts,  dried 
fruit,  etc. 

A  very  satisfactory  business  has  been  built  up  by  buy- 
ing co-operatively  the  fruits  and  raisins  sold  by  the  Cali- 
fornia Farmers'  Union. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA.— South  Carolina  has  three 
banks,  two  brokerage  companies,  and  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  warehouses. 

There  is  a  movement  now  on  foot  to  build  more  ware- 
houses and  federate  them  after  the  plan  adopted  by  the 
Mississippi  Union.  The  charter  has  been  applied  for  and 
the  capital  stock  is  being  raised. 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  35 

There  are  numerous  county  business  agents  who  have 
saved  a  great  deal  of  money  to  the  farmers  of  the  state. 
This  has  been  especially  true  in  the  purchase  of  fertilizers. 

TENNESSEE. — From  an  agricultural  standpoint,  the 
state  of  Tennessee  occupies  a  unique  position.  Its  staple 
products  are  cotton,  grain  and  tobacco,  and  therefore,  it 
cannot  be  classed  as  belonging  exclusively  to  either  of  the 
groups  of  states  producing  these  articles.  In  addition  to 
these  crops,  there  are  great  sections  of  the  state  devoted 
to  the  production  of  p^i^uts,  still  others  to  live  stock,  and 
others  to  fruits  and  vegetables.  The  methods  employed 
by  the  membership  in  storing  and  selling  the  more  common 
staple  crops  do  not  differ  materially  from  those  employed 
by  the  organization  elsewhere.  Cotton  belt  farmers  have 
their  warehouses,  and  in  a  number  of  instances  operate 
gins  owned  co-operatively.  Tobacco  belt  farmers  have 
their  tobacco  warehouses  and  prizing  houses. 

Farmers  of  the  peanut  belt  have,  heretofore,  sold  their 
peanuts  in  the  rough  just  as  they  came  from  the  vine. 
When  members  of  the  organization  began  to  offer  them 
direct  to  wholesalers  instead  of  the  local  buyers  and  re- 
cleaners,  they  were  at  a  disadvantage  because  the  nuts  were 
not  recleaned.  This"  has  spurred  them  to  erect  a  large  re- 
claner,  costing  $4,500,  at  Johnsonville,  on  the  Tennessee 
River,  which  is  now  in  operation. 

Members  of  the  Farmers'  Union  have  taken  active  in- 
terest in  organizing  and  financing  country  banks,  and  at 
least  two  banks  are  owned  outright  by  members  of  the 
Union.  These  banks  have  made  loans  to  farmers  to  help 
them  hold  and  market  their  crops.  The  Secretary  reports 
them  in  splendid  condition.  The  deposits  of  the  bank  at 
Ripley  average  $175,000. 

Tennessee  has  a  business  agent  who  has  saved  the  mem- 
bers thousands  of  dollars  in  the  purchase  of  their  fertilizer 
and  farm  supplies. 

Many  counties  that  do  not  grow  cotton  have  erected 
warehouses  for  the  special  purpose  of  storing  fencing, 
wagons,  implements  and  other  material  bought  in  quanti- 
ties, from  which  distribution  is  made  to  the  membership. 

Among  the  business  enterprises  of  the  organization  in 
Tennessee  may  be  mentioned  the  ownership,  exclusively 
by  them,  of  two  river  landings. 

TEXAS. — The  members  in  Texas  have  built  more  cot- 
ton gins  than  any  other  state.    They  have  136  in  operation. 


36  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

costing  many  thousands  of  dollars.  Among  other  industries 
may  be  catalogued  an  oil  mill,  an  electric  light  plant,  and 
several  flouring  mills.  Many  clearing  houses  have  been 
built  to  handle  the  produce  of  farms  and  to  buy  supplies. 

Texas  maintains  a  State  Business  Agency  to  assist  the 
members  in  disposing  of  their  products  at  remunerative 
prices,  and  to  purchase  for  them  farm  supplies. 

The  iniquitous  system  of  mortgaging  growing  crops  to 
merchants  for  supplies,  a  practice  very  common  through- 
out the  south,  has  been  reduced  in  Texas,  it  is  claimed,  since 
the  advent  of  the  Farmers'  Union,  over  59  per  cent. 

Members  of  the  U,nion  in  Texas  have  been  very  active 
in  a  campaign  for  the  greater  consumption  of  cotton,  with 
the  result  that  in  many  instances  the  Federal  Government, 
packers,  wholesalers,  and  refiners,  agreed  to  use  cotton 
sacking  instead  of  jute. 

The  activities  of  the  organization  to  secure  better  prices 
for  cotton  seed  by  bulking  in  quantity,  have  been  uniform- 
ly successful.  In  some  instances  they  have  more  than 
doubled  the  price  in  a  few  months.  This  was  due  in  no 
small  degree  to  a  general  participation  in  interstate  com- 
modities and  cotton  seed  rates  by  the  railroads  of  Texas 
at  the  urgent  request  of  the  Farmers'  Union. 

VIRGINIA. — The  members  in  Virginia  own  many  fer- 
tilizer and  mixing  plants  and  stores  are  operated  for  the 
handling  of  farm  products  and  supplies. 

WASHINGTON.— The  Washington  division  includes 
the  northern  or  pan-handle  counties  of  Idaho.  Washing- 
ton, Oregon  and  Idaho  have  organized  a  Tri-State  Termi- 
nal Warehouse  Company,  reference  to  which  has  been  made 
under  a  previous  heading.  The  principal  office  is  at  Seat- 
tle, Washington,  with  a  branch  office  and  leased  docks  at 
Portland,  Oregon.  Daily  market  quotations  are  wired  by 
this  company  to  the  interior  warehouses. 

Many  of  the  local  warehouses,  besides  handling  grair 
at  a  great  saving  to  the  members,  handle  coal,  wood,  posts, 
flour,  feed,  oil,  lumber  and  many  other  articles  at  a  small 
margin  above  cost. 

The  Farmers'  Union  Exchange  and  Produce  Company 
of  Spokane,  incorporated  and  capitalized  at  $25,000,  as  the 
name  implies,  transacts  a  general  business  for  the  mem- 
bership. 

The  Lincoln  County  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company 
was  incorporated  in  May,  1911,  and  is  now  doing  business 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  37 

throughout  the  state  for  members  of  the  Farmers'  Union, 
exclusively ;  no  applications  are  accepted  except  from  mem- 
bers in  good  standing.  , 

The  organization  has  reduced  the  price  of  grain  bags 
one-half,  and  has,  by  co-operating  intelligently  with  the 
railroads,  secured  material  reductions  in  freight  rates. 

Oregon,  Washington  and  Idaho  have  adopted  as  the 
official  organ  the  Pacific  Farmers'  Union,  published  at 
Pullman,  Washington. 

A  commendable  feature  of  the  work  of  the  Secretaries 
of  Washington  and  Oi^on  is  the  listing  of  products  for 
sale  by  each  local  union  and  the  articles  which  the  local 
desires  to  buy.  These  lists  are  sent  out  periodically  in 
order  to  promote  a  co-operative  exchange  of  products. 


APPENDIX 


FARMERS'    EDUCATIONAL   AND    CO-OPERATIVE 
UNI(^  OF  AMERICA. 


National  Secretary,  A.  C.  Davis,  Gives  Some  Views  on  Co- 
operation and  Says  the  Time  Is  Ripe  to  Begin 
Applying  Co-operation  to  Business. 

(Excerpts  from  an  article  which  recently  appeared  in  the 
Union's  papers.) 


TO  THE  MEMBERSHIP:— 

Co-operation  has  become  almost  a  household  word  in 
the  homes  of  America.  In  it  the  producer  sees  a  panacea 
for  the  ills  that  beset  him,  and  to  it  the  consumer  looks  for 
relief  from  the  exorbitant  tribute  he  is  constantly  paying 
to  the  ''middlemen."  So  much  has  been  said  and  written 
upon  this  subject  that  it  would  appear  the  general  public 
should  be  thoroughly  familiar  with  its  teachings.  But 
after  carefully  observing  the  workings  of  numerous  insti- 
tutions, presumably  based  upon  co-operative  or  co-opera- 
tion principles,  I  am  forced  to  say  that  the  theory  has  been 
but  remotely  approached,  and  the  practical  application  al- 
most nil,  as  a  factor  in  the  business.  This  is  not  said  to  dis- 
count the  value  of  numerous  enterprises  controlled  by  our 
membership,  that  have  made  a  success  financially,  and 
have  saved  thousands  of  dollars  to  those  interested,  either 
by  forcing  competition  to  lower  the  price  of  supplies,  or 
by  saving  the  cost  of  the  "middleman"  in  selling  products 
to  the  consumer.  None  appreciate  more  than  I  the  value 
of  these  institutions,  and  it  is  not  to  reflect  upon  the  busi- 
ness acumen  of  the  men  in  charge  that  the  above  statement 
is  made,  but  rather  that  we  may  work  out  a  system  that 


40  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

will  make  them  more  efficient  by  incorporating  the  co- 
operative idea. 

Co-operation,  aside  from  any  generic  significance  it 
may  have,  has  a  specific  and  technical  sense.  It  occupies  a 
middle  position  between  the  doctrines  of  the  communists 
and  socialists  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  private  property 
and  freedom  of  individual  labor  and  enterprise  on  the 
other.  It  departs  from  communism  at  a  very  definite  point. 
While  communism  would  extinguish  the  notion  of  individ- 
ual gain  and  possession  in  a  reign  of  universal  happiness 
or  good  and  remodel  all  existing  rights,  laws  and  arrange- 
ments of  society  upon  such  a  basis  as  would  promote  this 
end,  co-operation  seeks,  by  working  consistently  with  the 
institutions  of  society,  as  thus  far  developed,  to  remedy 
the  social  condition  by  a  concurrence  of  ever  increasing 
numbers  of  individuals  in  a  common  interest. 

Co-operative  societies  springing  from  this  idea  have 
increased  in  number  and  in  amount  of  business  transacted 
in  recent  years.  Most  of  those  have  taken  one  of  three 
principal  forms  that  ma)-  be  classified  thus: 

FIRST:  Societies  of  consumption,  the  object  of  which 
is  to  buy  for  the  membership  the  necessities  of  life,  or  the 
raw  material  of  their  industry. 

SECOND :  Societies  of  production,  the  object  of  which 
is  to  sell  the  product  of  the  membership. 

THIRD:  Societies  of  credit  or  banking,  the  object  of 
which  is  to  open  accounts  with  their  members  and  advance 
them  loans  for  industrial  purposes. 

These  three  kinds  of  associations  have  attained  marked 
success  in  three  different  countries  of  Europe.  England 
stands  at  the  head  in  societies  of  consumption  ;  France  in 
societies  of  production ;  Germany  in  societies  of  credit.  The 
masses  of  laborers  in  the  factories  and  other  great  works 
of  England  have  attained  their  greatest  co-operative  suc- 
cess in  societies  for  the  purchase,  and  in  some  degree,  the 
production,  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  passion  for  inde- 
pendence in  their  handicraft  has  given  France  a  greater 
number  of  artisans  who  work  in  their  own  homes  than  any 
other  country,  and  their  greatest  co-operative  success  has 
been  in  collectively  selling  the  product  of  their  labor.  The 
less  abundant  capital,  and  the  lack  of  banks  and  other  in- 
stitutions of  credit  in  the  remote  parts  of  Germany  may 
explain  in  some  degree  the  development  of  societies  of 
credit  in  that  country. 

It  will  serve  no  very  great  purpose  to  give  an  elaborate 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  41 

review  of  the  history  of  co-operation  in  the  United  States. 
There  have  been  many  attempts  to  install  the  English  sys- 
tem of  co-operative  stores,  but  with  few  exceptions,  these 
have  met  with  failure.  There  may  be  any  number  of  rea- 
sons assigned  for  this,  such  as  higher  wage  scales  making 
the  necessity  for  co-operation  in  buying  necessaries  less 
apparent  in  America  than  in  England,  but  the  reason  that 
suggests  itself  to  me  as  having  more  direct  bearing  on  the 
matter  than  any  other  that  may  be  advanced  is,  the  un- 
willingness of  the  average  American  to  engage  in  an  enter- 
prise that  does  not  offei^to  exploit  his  capital.  The  idea, 
though  having  met  with  many  rebuffs,  will  not  down.  The 
trend  of  prices  skyward  during  the  past  few  years,  making 
the  cost  of  living  a  very  serious  question,  has  forced  this 
idea  to  the  front,  and  another  wave  is  sweeping  the  coun- 
try. Especially  has  this  been  marked  since  farmers  organ- 
ized the  Farmers'  Union  with  education  and  co-operation 
as  the  slogan.  Attempts  at  forming  societies  in  this  coun- 
try have  not  been  confined  strictly  to  either  of  the  forms 
outlined  above.  Most  of  them  combine  the  principles  of 
the  organizations  of  consumption  and  production.  This  is 
very  marked  in  those  institutions  operated  by  members  of 
the  Farmers'  Union.  Authority  for  this  is  given  by  the 
preamble  of  our  Constitution,  which  says  that  one  of  the 
objects  is  to  assist  the  members  in  buying  and  selling. 
The  German  idea  of  co-operation  has  been  given  but  little 
attention  in  this  countr>^  outside  of  some  of  the  cities  and 
towns  which  have  associations  based  upon  this  idea  to  en- 
courage and  assist  their  members  in  owning  their  own 
homes.  Producers,  and  especially  farmers,  have  given  but 
little  thought  to  this  matter  which,  to  my  mind,  deserves 
some  consideration. 

Combination  among  farmers  for  the  purchase  of  sup- 
plies has  never  appealed  to  me  quite  so  much  as  has  the 
idea  of  combination  for  the  sale  of  farm  products.  Not- 
withstanding our  Constitution  states  specifically  that  its 
object  is  to  assist  its  members  in  buying  and  selling,  the 
great  mission  of  the  Farmers'  Union  is,  in  my  judgment, 
to  assist  its  members  in  securing  remunerative  prices  for 
the  products  of  their  labor.  Beside  this  great  central 
thought  all  others  sink  into  insignificance.  This  object 
should  be  constantly  in  the  minds  of  every  leader,  and 
frequently  be  presented  in  a  forceful  manner  to  every  lay 
member.  Unless  we  do  keep  this  thought  foremost,  our 
organization   is   apt  to  be   buffeted   about  by   every  local 


42  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

problem  that  offers  itself,  and  we  shall  present  the  ludi- 
crous spectacle  of  a  great  Union  being  handicapped  in  its 
^  work  by  the  members  of  one  locality  running  after  one 
thing  of  but  local  importance,  and  those  of  another  engross- 
ed in  an  affair  that  has  but  little  bearing  upon  the  great 
question  at  issue.  Bear  in  mind  also,  that  according  to.  the 
principles  of  the  order,  the  solution  of  crop  marketing  is 
to  be  worked  out  along*  co-operative  lines.  It  is  very  evi- 
dent that  co-operative  endeavor  to  secure  this  result  must 
take  the  form  of  societies  of  production,  and  while  some 
latitude  may  be  allowed  to  cover  some  features  not  em- 
bodied in  this  idea,  the  principles  of  this  form  must  pre- 
dominate. Attempts  thus  far  made  by  the  organization 
to  market  farm  products  have  fallen  far  short  of  co-opera- 
tive ideals.  A  great  majority  of  the  warehouses  and  ele- 
vators built,  owned  and  operated  by  the  membership  are 
in  no  sense  co-operative.  The  success  of  some  of  these 
institutions  has,  in  a  financial  way,  been  indeed  phenome- 
nal, but  the  results  have  been  those  of  a  private  stock  com.- 
pany  rather  than  that  of  a  co-operative  institution. 

The  kind  of  crop,  whether  or  not  it  is  competitive,  also 
the  percentage  of  such  crop  actually  grown  and  controlled 
by  the  membership  are  factors  which  must  be  considered 
before  attempting  to  formulate  a  plan  for  selling  to  the 
best  advantage.  Most  of  the  products  of  the  American 
farm  are  competitive ;  that  is,  they  are  grown  in  other  sec- 
tions of  our  own  country  where  the  organization  has  not 
yet  reached.  So  long  as  the  membership  does  not  control 
a  sufficient  percentage  of  a  crop  to  empower  them  to  dic- 
tate prices,  the  object  of  the  society  handling  such  should 
be  to  sell  direct  to  the  consumer,  and  while  no  more  than 
the  prevailing  market  price  may  be  obtained,  the  producer 
will  gain  by  saving  the  "middleman's"  profit.  The  inter- 
change between  the  organization  in  different  localities  of 
such  products  as  are  grown  in  one  section  and  consumed 
in  another  may  be  made  profitable  to  producers  by  elim- 
inating the  "middleman's"  profit  at  both  ends  of  the  line. 
The  spirit  that  possesses  some  to  demand  more  for  a  com- 
modity from  a  brother  member  of  the  Union  than  can  be 
obtained  upon  the  open  market,  should  not  be  encouraged. 

Such  local  organizations  as  are  developing  trade  with 
the  consuming  public  in  other  localities,  and  are  reciprocat- 
ing by  using  products  of  other  sections  direct  from  the 
grower,  should  be  given  hearty  support.  Nothing  will  so 
impress  upon  farmers  of  all  sections  the  necessity  for  or- 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  43 

ganization  as  these  examples  of  successful  co-operation, 
and  the  result  of  this  will  eventually  be  the  spread  of  the 
Farmers'  Union  into  every  section  of  the  United  States. 

The  scheme  for  handling  these  crops  that  are  but  slight- 
ly competitive,  or  those  crops  over  which  the  organization 
may,  by  reason  of  their  numbers,  hope  to  exert  a  controll- 
ing influence,  may  be  more  far-reaching  in  its  intent.  The 
nearest  approach  we  have  in  this  country  to  a  non-com- 
petitive crop  is  cotton,  so  we  may  be  pardoned  for  discuss- 
ing its  handling  somewhat  in  detail,  because  it  will  be  used 
merely  as  an  example  of  what  may  be  accomplished  when 
the  producers  of  any  given  crop  are  thoroughly  organized 
and  equipped  to  handle  it. 

There  is  so  little  world  cofnpetition  in  the  production  of 
this  crop  that  there  is  absolutely  no  excuse  for  it  not  bring- 
ing each  year  its  full  economic  value  to  the  producer.  Some 
of  the  principles  about  which  we  preach  so  much,  and  upon 
which  our  organization  is  supposed  to  be  based,  are  equity, 
justice  and  the  golden  rule.  In  keeping  with  these  princi- 
ples, the  first  step  before  beginning  moving  the  crop  of 
any  year,  is  to  determine  upon  the  equitable  price.  There 
are  a  number  of  elements  that  enter  into  the  calculation. 
It  must  be  considered  in  its  relation  to  the  entire  social 
fabric  of  the  world.  The  demand  for  it  as  a  necessity,  to- 
gether with  the  standards  of  living  and  general  level  of 
the  consuming  public  must  have  consideration,  and  a 
fair  understanding  of  these,  coupled  with  a  knowledge  of 
conditions  which  surround  the  producer,  tending  either  to 
diminish  or  increase  the  cost  of  production  will  give  a  basis 
upon  which  to  fix  a  fair  valuation.  The  price  of  no  crop 
can  be  fixed  upon  what  it  was  worth  last  year,  nor  what 
we  hope  it  will  be  worth  next  year,  but  must  be  determined 

by  its  economic  value  this  year. 

*  *  *  ♦ 

The  urgent  need  of  vast  sums  of  money  to  loan  to  the 
membership  who  expect  to  hold  a  portion  of  the  crop  would 
seem  to  show  a  co-operative  society  for  handling  the  crop 
should  be  a  combination  of  the  first  and  third  forms  sug- 
gested in  the  beginning  of  this  article — e.g. — a  society  of 
production  and  credit.  It  does  not  follow  that  such  an  or- 
ganization must  have  sufficient  funds  of  its  own  to  loan 
its  members,  but  it  does  mean  that  such  an  organization 
must  have  sufficient  facilities  for  storing  and  handling  the 
product  as  will  insure  abundant  credit  in  the  money  mar- 
kets.    Our  attempts  to  eliminate  competition  among  indi- 


44  T^Hl!]  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

viduals  by  building  local  warehouses,  was  laudable,  but  if 
each  bale  of  cotton  was  sold  through  the  local  warehouses, 
«o  long  as  they  remain  as  at  present,  having  no  relation 
one  to  another,  competition  is  as  evident  as  in  the  days 
when  the  individual  sold  at  auction  on  the  streets.  Some 
of  the  State  Unions,  recognizing  this,  have  federated  their 
warehouses  under  one  management,  which  is  evidently  a 
step  in  the  right  direction.  There  are  but  two  more  steps 
to  take  and  the  goal  will  have  been  reached :  put  these  fed- 
erated warehouses  upon  a  co-operative  basis  and  form  an 
organization  capable  of  handling  the  entire  output. 

Co-operation  carries  with  it  an  idea  that  seems  to  have 
been  overlooked  by  the  majority  of  our  members.  To  bring 
the  point  out  clearly,  I  shall  briefly  refer  to  those  societies 
formed  for  the  purchase  of  supplies  for  their  members. 
Agents  or  officers  are  elected  with  full  authority  to  trans- 
act all  the  business,  and  the  individual  accepts  the  price  put 
upon  the  goods  without  question,  having,  of  course,  the 
right,  through  the  Executive  Committee,  or  otherwise,  to 
investigate  the  books  of  the  concern.  In  other  words  in 
joining  a  society  of  this  kind  he  surrenders  the  right  to 
barter  as  an  individual  for  his  goods.  It  will  logically  fol- 
low that  one  who  joins  a  co-operative  society  based  upon 
either  of  the  forms  enumerated,  must  surrender  to  some 
extent  his  individuality.  This  is  the  key-note  to  the  whole 
proposition.  Upon  the  proper  acceptance  of  this  depends 
the  success  of  any  co-operative  enterprise.  It  is  useless  to 
talk  about  the  co-operative  handling  of  cotton  or  any  other 
crop,  ai  the  same  time  allowing  the  individual  to  have  ab- 
solute authority  over  the  disposition  of  his  portion.  This 
surrendering  of  all  rights  to  an  authorized  agent,  with  au- 
thority to  sell  when  and  where  he  pleases,  may  seem  radical 
to  some,  but  that  is  exactly  what  co-operation  contemplates, 
and  whether  or  not  we  are  ready  for  it,  the  membership 
must  decide. 

It  IS  noticeable  that  organizations  which  have  been  uni- 
formly successful  in  handling  perishable  products,  such  as 
fruit  and  berries,  for  their  members,  have  insisted  upon 
this  principle. 

The  reasons  for  insisting  that  societies  formed  to  handle 
farm  crops  should  be  co-operative,  are  obvious  to  most 
thinking  people,  but  it  may  be  well  at  this  point  to  discuss 
the  relative  merits  of  private  stock  companies  and  co- 
operative companies.  In  the  very  nature  of  things  the  stock 
company  measures  its  success  by  the  earning  capacity  of  its 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  45 

capital,  and  naturally  expects  to  secure  for  its  stockholders 
all  the  profits  that  the  trade  will  stand.  A  company  of  this 
character,  though  organized  by  members  of  the  Farmers' 
Union,  and  for  the  primary  purpose  of  assisting  all  mem- 
bers, whether  stockholders  or  not,  in  the  sale  of  products, 
has  no  reason  to  hope  for  the  patronage  of  such  member- 
ship except  as  it  can  demonstrate  superior  ability  for  selling 
that  which  it  handles  than  its  competitors  upon  the  same 
scale  of  charge,  or  can  make  sales  for  a  smaller  fee.  It  is 
very  clear,  that  the  company  will  not,  so  long  as  it  repre- 
sents the  whim  of  individual  producers,  become  a  strong 
factor  in  fixing  and  maintaining  prices. 

To  insure  success  in  fixing  equitable  prices,  and  making 
sales  at  a  minimum  of  cost,  every  producer,  or  a  sufficient 
number  of  them  at  least,  to  control  the  bulk  of  the  crop, 
must  be  given  a  direct  personal  interest  in  the  organiza- 
tion. Many  have  held  contrary  opinions,  I  am  aware.  The 
impression  was  at  one  time  general  that  if  an  institution 
was  founded  by  some  of  the  members,  others  would  sup- 
port it  because  it  was  a  Farmers'  Union  concern.  But  his- 
tory has  clearly  demonstrated  the  fallacy  of  such  an  argu- 
ment. It  shows  a  weakness  in  calculation  when  we  rely 
upon  sentiment  alone  to  insure  the  success  of  an  enterprise. 
We  have  omitted  an  important  element — the  individual  and 
his  pocketbook.  Little  it  matters  whether  a  private  com- 
pany is  operated  by  his  brother  members  or  outsiders,  so 
long  as  they  remain  independent  and  there  is  no  concerted 
action  among  them  in  the  same  direction ;  he  may  be  ex- 
pected to  buy  service  wherever  he  pleases.  The  Farmers' 
Union  started  out  to  change  the  old  order  of  things  and 
substitute  a  plan  of  its  own.  It  has  always  been  possible 
to  ship  products  to  large  centers,  and  secure  an  advance  of 
money  pending  the  sale,  but  this  carried  with  it  no  pooling 
of  interests  in  the  sale.  If  we  have  any  mission  at  all  to 
fill,  it  is  to  pool  the  interests  of  our  members  and  sell 
products  through  our  own  agencies. 

Co-operation  is  not  at  all  complicated.  Its  workings 
are  very  simple.  Necessary  working  capital  is  paid  a  fixed 
rate  of  interest  for  its  use  and  all  products  are  handled  for 
a  fixed  charge.  The  stockholder's  interest  in  the  affair  is 
not  greater,  except  of  course,  the  interest  on  his  money, 
than  that  of  a  non-stockholder,  who  furnishes  the  commodi- 
ty to  the  company,  because  after  paying  interest  for  capital 
used,  salaries  and  incidental  expenses,  and  providing  the 
necessary  sinking  fund,  any  surplus  is  returned  to  the  pat- 


46  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

rons  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  patronage.  In  my 
humble  judgment  this  is  the  only  way  we  have  hope  to 
enlist  a  sufficient  number  of  producers  of  corn,  wheat,  oats, 
cotton,,  tobacco,  or  any  other  farm  crop  in  an  effort  to 
handle  the  product. 


TOPICS  FOR  DISCUSSION. 


At  the  last  National  convention  of  the  Farmers'  Union 
the  Committee  on  Topics,  by  W.  H.  Moore,  presented  the 
following  report,  which  was,  upon  motion,  adopted: 

To  the   Members  of  the  National  Union,  here  assembled 
at  Chattanooga,  Sept.  5,  1912: 

We,  your  committee  appointed  to  arrange  topics  for 
discussion,  for  the  locals  during  the  ensuing  year,  realizing 
the  importance  of  stimulating  interest  on  important  sub- 
jects, herewith  submit  the  following  report: 

October. 

What  can  farmers  do  towards  systematic  marketing  to 
increase  their  prosperity? 

WYmld  it  be  wise  for  the  government  to  fix  the  price 
of  farm  products? 

Of  what  value  is  the  Farmers'  Union  Press? 

The  need  for  better  trained  teachers,  better  school 
buildings,  better  equipment  and  longer  school  terms. 

November. 

To  what  extent  are  middlemen  necessary  in  the  distri- 
bution of  farm  products? 

What  effect  will  a  close  study  of  the  Constitution  and 
By-Laws  have  upon  the  membership? 

What  effect  has  corporate  ownership  of  land  in  Amer- 
ica? 

Are  the  people  in  America  powerless  to  control  trusts? 
If  so,  why? 

December. 

How  has  the  organization  already  improved  the  farm- 
er's condition? 

Is  it  practical  for  our  government  to  protect  its  cotton 
and  tobacco  industry  by  government  control? 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  47 

What  community  of  interest  has  the  farm  and  town? 
What  is  necessary  to  make  the  local   meetings  more 

January. 

If  you  have  been  benefited  by  half  co-operation,  sup- 
pose we  try  one  year  whole  co-operation  and  note  results. 

Has  the  alleged  dissolution  of  the  trusts  accomplished 
the  desired  results? 

How  can  the  American  farmer  secure  the  establish- 
ment of  a  rural  banking  system  that  will  furnish  him  money 
at  as  low  a  rate  of  interest  as  the  commercial  interest? 

What  is  the  bes-t  system  of  crop  rotation  for  the  im- 
provement of  our  soils? 

February. 

Are  the  farmers  an  asset  of  the  banks  or  banks  an 
asset  of  the  farmers? 

The  need  of  conservation  of  our  natural  resources. 

The  need  of  bonded  warehouses  and  elevators. 

Has  any  investment  paid  you  better  for  the  amount  of 
time  and  mone}''  put  in  it  than  joining  the  Union? 

March. 

Are  your  boys  and  girls  on  the  farm  because  of  its  at- 
tractions and  possibilities,  or  because  they  are  unfitted  for 
other  positions? 

Who  controls  the  volume  of  money? 

Are  there  any  trusts  that  are  beneficial  to  the  people? 

What  position  does  the  farmer  occupy  in  relation  to  the 
high  cost  of  living? 

Is  the  agricultural  press  as  it  is  now  conducted  working 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  farmers? 

April. 

How  may  the  public  school  houses  be  used  as  social 
centers? 

Who  are  more  responsible  for  the  success  or  failure  of 
the  Farmers'  Union — the  Officers  or  the  Members? 

Co-operation  and  what  is  offers  locally. 

What  sacrifice  have  you  made  to  strengthen  the  Union? 

May. 

The  importance  of  the  Boys'  Corn  Club  work,  Domes- 
tic Science  work,  Girls'  Tomato  Clubs  and  Farm  Demon- 
stration work. 


48  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

The  advantage  of  local  taxation  in  public  education. 

What  is  the  best  method  of  promoting  civic  pride  in 
your  community? 

What  can  we  do  to  increase  our  lady  membership  and 
how  will  it  effect  our  locals? 

June. 

The  need  of  rural  libraries  in  our  public  schools. 

Will  representation  in  proportion  to  occupation  be 
beneficial  to  our  government? 

If  capital  has  seen  the  wisdom  of  co-operation,  why 
not  the  farmers? 

Why  couldn't  the  government  appropriate  money  to 
improve  our  roads? 

July. 

The  propriety  of  a  Bureau  of  Information  as  to  amount 
of  acreage  of  farm  products,  also  amount  of  live  stock  on 
the  farm. 

What  effect  has  foreign  immigration  upon  the  future 
of  the  American  people? 

What  effect  has  gambling  in  farm  products  upon  the 
prices  ? 

Which  is  the  best  policy  for  public  improvements — 
direct  taxation  or  bond  issues? 

August 

Wliat  effect  will  proper  marketing  facilities  have  upon 
the  volume  of  production? 

Is  the  crop  lien  beneficial  or  detrimental  to  the  welfare 
of  the  farmer? 

In  what  way  are  we  benefited  by  the  use  of  agriciul- 
tural  text  books  in  our  public  schools? 

How  can  I  manage  to  adopt  a  cash  system? 

September. 
What  does  the  Farmers'  Union  offer  to  the  tenant? 
Is  the  use  of  a  low  grade  cotton  seed  meal  as  made 
now  by  most  mills  as  economical  as  the  higher  grade  man- 
ufactured heretofore? 

What  effect  will  personal  letters  to  legislators  and  con- 
gressmen have  on  legislation? 

What  is  the  most  practical  plan  to  abolish  the  tenant 
system  ? 

W.  H.  MOORE,  Chairman. 
JOHN  McKINNEY, 
M.  S.  KNIGHT. 


CO-OPERATIVE  UNION  OF  AMERICA  4& 

OFFICIAL  DIRECTORY,  YEAR  1912-13. 

National  Union. 

President — Charles  S.  Barrett,  Union  City,  Georgia. 
Vice-President — J.  D.  Brown,  Arlington,  Oregon. 
Secretary-Treasurer — A.  C.  Davis,  Rogers,  Arkansas. 

Board  of  Directors. 

Chairman — L.  M.  Rhodes,  Huntington,  Tenn. 
Secretary — O.  F.  Dornblaser,  Cleburne,  Texas. 
]\.Iembers — P.  W.  Cox,  Colfax,  Washington. 

C.  C.  Wright,- Hunting  Creek,  North  Carolina. 

T.   J.   Douglass,   Kennett,   Missouri. 


STATE  DIVISIONS. 

Alabama. 

President— O,  P.  Ford,  McFall. 
Secretary-Treasurer — T.  J.   Kennedy,  Birmingham. 

Arkansas. 

President — H.  S.  Mobley.  Prairie  Grove. 
Secretary-Treasurer — J.   B.    Paine,   Russelville. 

California. 
President — Wm.  McNaught,  Morgan  Hill. 
Secretary-Treasurer — ^Fred  IMillard,  Los  Gatos. 

Colorado. 

President — Fred  Gaylord,  Riffle. 

Secretary-Treasurer — R.  M.  Winston,  357  Railway  Ex- 
change Building,  Denver. 

Business  Agent — Louis  Roether,  357  Railway  Exchange 
^Building,  Denver. 

Florida. 
President — M.  S.  Knight,  Lake  City. 
Secretary-Treasurer — R.  M.  Bush,  Jennings. 

Georgia. 
President — I.  A.  Smith,  Tennillc. 
Secretary-Treasurer — ^Tohn  T.  McDaniel,  Union  City. 

Indiana. 

President — W.  H.  Brown,  Spencer. 

Secretary-Treasurer — Stanton  Johnson,  Vincennes,  R.  F. 
D.  No.  3. 


50  THE  FARMERS'  EDUCATIONAL  AND 

Kansas. 

President — M.  McAiiliffe,  Salina. 
Secretary-Treasurer — E.  B.  RoacUiouse,  Osborne. 

Kentucky. 
President — L.  Thomas,  Melber. 
Secretary-Treasurer-— R.  L.  Barnelt,  J'aducah. 

Louisiana. 
President— I.   N.    McCollister,   Many. 
Secretary-Treasurer— Miss  Minnie  Carron,  Eunice. 

Mississippi. 
President — T.  W.  Carter,  Jackson. 
Secretary-Treasurer — Miss  Emma  W.  Smith,  Jackson. 

Missouri. 
President — E.  W.  Solomon,  Bernie. 
Secretary-Treasurer — Elmer  E.  Clinton,  Steelville. 

North  Carolina. 
President — H.  Q.  Alexander,  Matthews. 
Secretary -Treasurer — E.  C.  P'aires,  Aberdeen. 
Business  Agent — J.  R.  Rives,  Sanford. 

Oklahoma. 
President — O.  W.  Taylor,  Roff. 
Secretary-Treasurer — J.  O.  Butler,  Walter. 

Oregon. 
President — A.  V.  Swift,  Baker. 
Secretary-Treasurer — V .  A.  Sikes,  Miltpn. 

South  Carolina. 
President— E.  W.  Dabbs,  Mayesville,  R.  E,  D.  No.  1. 
Secretary-Treasurer — J.  Whitner  Reid,  Columbia. 

Tennessee. 
President — L.  M.  Rhodes,  Huntingdon. 
Secretary-Treasurer — C.  W.  Brooks,  At  wood.  • 

Business  Agent — W.  R.  Arnold,  Pinson. 

Texas. 
President — Peter  Radford,  Port  Worth,  ]^)Ushong  Bldg. 
Secretary-Treasurer — C.  Smith,  Et.  Worth,  Bushong  Bldg. 

Virginia.. 
President — D.  M.  Gannaway,  Guinea  Mills. 
Secretary-Treasurer — D.  M.  Blankinship,  Naruna, 

Washington. 
President — L.   C.   Crow,    Pullman. 
Secretary-Treasurer — A.  D.  Cross,  St.  Andrews. 
Business  Agent — C.  W.  Nelson,  Seattle. 


INDEX 


Newt  Gresham  (Engraving-) 8 

Charles  S.  Barrett   (Engraving)    5 

A,  C.  Davis  (Engraving)   7 

Preface,  by  Secretary  A.  C.  Davis  9 

What  It  Is,  and  What  It  Is  Doing 11 

Footprints  of  the  Ages,  by  T.  J.  Brooks 32 

The  Farmers'  Union  and  Legislation 14 

National  Legislation  16 

State  Legislation  Requested 16 

State  Unions  and  Legislation 17 

Alabama  17 

Arkansas    17 

California    18 

Colorado '.  .  18 

Florida    19 

Georgia    > 19 

Kentucky   20 

Louisiana 20 

Mississippi  21 

North  Carolina  21 

South  Carolina   21 

Tennessee   . 22 

Texas    ' 22 

Washington    23 

Agricultural  Progress  Comparison,  by  T.  J.  Brooks 28 

What  We  Have  Done  and  Are  Doing: 

In  the  Cotton  Belt  "... \ 24 

In  the  Tobacco  Belt 26 

In  the  Grain  Belt   27 

In  a  Variety  of  Things 20 

By  States  .' 30 

APPENDIX. 

Article  by  Secretary  A.  C.  Davis 39 

Topics  for  Discussion .- 40 

Official  Directory,  1912-13 •.  .  .48 


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